Alabama native Condoleeza Rice has publicly announced her support for Rex Tillerson, who is President-Elect Donald J. Trump’s pick to fill the role of Secretary of State. In a post on her Facebook page, Rice called Tillerson “a successful business man and a patriot,” and noted that he holds “a belief in America’s special role in the world.”
Born in Birmingham, Ala., Rice served as President George W. Bush’s National Security Advisor before being promoted to Secretary of State. She held the post from 2005 until the end of the administration, and was the first African-American woman to lead the State Department.
After speculation swirled that Rudy Guilliani, John Bolton, or even Mitt Romney would take over for Sec. Ashton Carter, Trump announced his official nomination of Tillerson on Tuesday. Tillerson is the current chairman and CEO of Exxon Mobil Corporation – the fifth largest company in the world by market capitalization. While he has no formal foreign policy experience, Tillerson has built up relationships with world leaders in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East through his business dealings.
In an official statement, Trump called Tillerson a “world class player,” and said “His tenacity, broad experience and deep understanding of geopolitics make him an excellent choice for Secretary of State.”
Like Trump’s other cabinet selections, Tillerson must be confirmed by a majority in the U.S. Senate.
