Free Republic

White House chief of staff John Kelly called the State Department on Thursday to dispel media reports that a plan had been developed to remove Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, agency spokeswoman Heather Nauert said.

A succession plan appears to be in place after a year of a strained relationship between President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, according to reports. CIA Director Mike Pompeo is in line to take over as the nation's top diplomat "within the next several weeks," The New York Times says, citing senior White House officials.

from Laura Ingraham

The White House has mapped out a plan in which Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is replaced in the next few weeks with current CIA Director Mike Pompeo, according to a report. Senior administration officials told the New York Times Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., would then take over for Pompeo as director of the CIA. Cotton has indicated he would take the post if President Trump offered it to him, the officials said. However, it’s unknown whether the president has approved the transition plan. A spokesperson for Cotton said the senator’s “focus is on serving Arkansans in the Senate.” The...