Secretary of State Rex Tillerson: "The President Speaks for Himself!"

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson

When President Trump brought in Rex Tillerson, the former CEO of Exxon, as Secretary of State, we were bemused.



When we later learned that Tillerson had more interaction with the Russians than almost any U.S. citizen prior, we

Russia's Order of Friendship
Medal

were alarmed. We later learned Tillerson had been given one of Russia's highest honors by Vladimir Putin, the Order of Friendship.

Tillerson, however, sort of won us over as his public diplomatic statements seemed prudent, well-reasoned, or as legalists frequently say, "on point."

As President Trump and Kim Jong Un engaged in a teenage pissing match, Tillerson's words were more measured and adult, ending with "Americans should sleep well at night."

When after the Trump administration's handling of the violence at Charlottesville, VA brought criticism from the United Nations for “its failure at the highest political level to unequivocally reject and condemn the racist violent events and demonstrations,” Tillerson answered questions from Fox News Chris Wallace about whether America is really living by its long-held values.

TILLERSON: I don’t believe anyone doubts the American people’s values or the commitment of the American government or the government’s agencies to advancing those values and defending those values.

WALLACE: And the president’s values?

TILLERSON: The president speaks for himself, Chris.

"The president speaks for himself?"  That's an amazing admission by one of Trump's senior administrators, one who represents our country all around the globe.

Just let that sink in:  "The president speaks for himself."