Top Tillerson aide fired after contradicting White House account of firing

Source: The Hill | March 13, 2018 | Rebecca Savransky

The White House has reportedly fired an aide at the State Department who contradicted the White House account of President Trump’s firing of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

The Associated Press first reported the firing of Under Secretary of State Steve Goldstein, citing officials.

The firing was reportedly prompted by a statement from Goldstein on Tuesday, responding to Tillerson’s firing, in which Goldstein said Tillerson did not speak with Trump before his firing and is “unaware” of the reason behind his dismissal.

The statement strongly suggested that Tillerson found out about his firing from Twitter — though it differs from published accounts of the decision that cited unnamed White House sources.

Goldstein also said that Tillerson had “every intention of staying” before his firing.

The Associated Press, citing two unnamed White House officials, reported that Tillerson was told he would be removed on Friday, and NBC News tweeted that White House chief of staff John Kelly delivered the news to him on Friday. The Associated Press reported that Kelly had told Tillerson that there might be a presidential tweet that would concern him.

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