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Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says 'I've never considered leaving'

Tillerson's comments followed an NBC News report Wednesday morning that he considered resigning after the meeting and to be persuaded to stay by Vice President Pence.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson makes a statement to the press at the State Department in Washington, DC, October 4, 2017. (JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Wednesday he has never considered resigning his job and denied earlier reports that he called President Trump a "moron" during a July 20 meeting at the Pentagon.

Tillerson's comments followed an NBC News report Wednesday morning that he considered resigning after the meeting and to be persuaded to stay by Vice President Pence.

Citing unnamed senior administration officials, NBC News said the "moron" comment came after Tillerson met with members of Trump's national security team and Cabinet officials.

The report said that while it's unclear whether Pence was aware of the incident, sources say he counseled Tillerson, giving him tips to ease tensions with the president.

Tensions between Trump and Tillerson seemed apparent on Sunday, with Trump on tweeting that Tillerson is "wasting his time" by negotiating with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

“I told Rex Tillerson, our wonderful Secretary of State, that he is wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man,” the president tweeted, using his nickname for North Korea's leader. “Save your energy Rex, we'll do what has to be done!”

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