POLITICO: Tillerson dismisses reports of plan to oust him: ‘It’s laughable’
“Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Friday called reports of a White House plan to oust him ‘laughable.’ White House chief of staff John Kelly has created a plan to force Tillerson out of the State Department, according to the New York Times, which reported Thursday that CIA Director Mike Pompeo would succeed him, with Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) favored to take over the CIA. … White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said there were no personnel changes to announce Thursday and indicated that Trump maintains confidence in his secretary of state, despite their strained relationship…” (McCaskill, 12/1).