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| Trump cabinet: Rex Tillerson confirmed as top US diplomat | Trump cabinet: Rex Tillerson confirmed as top US diplomat |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Rex Tillerson, the former chairman and CEO of Exxon Mobil, has been confirmed by the US Senate to become President Donald Trump’s secretary of state. | Rex Tillerson, the former chairman and CEO of Exxon Mobil, has been confirmed by the US Senate to become President Donald Trump’s secretary of state. |
| The Texas native, 64, was cleared for full Senate approval in a 56-43 vote. | The Texas native, 64, was cleared for full Senate approval in a 56-43 vote. |
| The vote came after Senate Republicans changed the rules in order to approve Mr Trump's nominees for health and treasury, despite a Democratic boycott. | The vote came after Senate Republicans changed the rules in order to approve Mr Trump's nominees for health and treasury, despite a Democratic boycott. |
| Mr Tillerson, who has never held political office, faced intense scrutiny over his ties to Russia. | Mr Tillerson, who has never held political office, faced intense scrutiny over his ties to Russia. |
| Rex Tillerson - the wildcard diplomat | Rex Tillerson - the wildcard diplomat |
| US puts missile test Iran 'on notice' | US puts missile test Iran 'on notice' |
| The former oil chief forged multibillion-dollar deals with Russia's state oil company, Rosneft, and was awarded the Order of Friendship by the Kremlin in 2013. | The former oil chief forged multibillion-dollar deals with Russia's state oil company, Rosneft, and was awarded the Order of Friendship by the Kremlin in 2013. |
| In his Senate confirmation hearing, he admitted that the West had reason to be alarmed by Russian aggression, but he refused under questioning to label Mr Putin a war criminal. | In his Senate confirmation hearing, he admitted that the West had reason to be alarmed by Russian aggression, but he refused under questioning to label Mr Putin a war criminal. |
| As America's top diplomat, Mr Tillerson will handle relations with countries including China and Russia and negotiate matters such as climate change and human rights, on behalf of President Trump. | As America's top diplomat, Mr Tillerson will handle relations with countries including China and Russia and negotiate matters such as climate change and human rights, on behalf of President Trump. |
| The Senate voted largely along party lines, despite speculation that some Republicans would not approve his nomination. | The Senate voted largely along party lines, despite speculation that some Republicans would not approve his nomination. |
| Though some critics suggested Mr Tillerson would not be able to give up his corporate interests, supporters contended his background as a global dealmaker would bring fresh perspective to the role. | Though some critics suggested Mr Tillerson would not be able to give up his corporate interests, supporters contended his background as a global dealmaker would bring fresh perspective to the role. |
| Mr Tillerson's confirmation was more contentious than those of his predecessors. | Mr Tillerson's confirmation was more contentious than those of his predecessors. |
| The Senate confirmed President Barack Obama's selections John Kerry 94-3 and Hillary Clinton 94-2. | The Senate confirmed President Barack Obama's selections John Kerry 94-3 and Hillary Clinton 94-2. |
| President George W Bush's secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, was confirmed 85-13 while Colin Powell was approved by a voice vote. | President George W Bush's secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, was confirmed 85-13 while Colin Powell was approved by a voice vote. |
| One of Mr Tillerson's first challenges may be allaying fears at the State Department over President Trump's order to ban travel or immigration from seven mostly Muslim nations. | One of Mr Tillerson's first challenges may be allaying fears at the State Department over President Trump's order to ban travel or immigration from seven mostly Muslim nations. |
| Nearly 1,000 US diplomats and Foreign Service officers signed a memo of dissent on Tuesday regarding the travel ban. | Nearly 1,000 US diplomats and Foreign Service officers signed a memo of dissent on Tuesday regarding the travel ban. |
| Mr Tillerson will be tasked with restoring relations with those affected countries as well as outraged European leaders. | |
| British Prime Minister Theresa May, fresh off a US diplomatic visit, opposed the ban on Monday. | |
| Also infuriated is Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, who cancelled his planned Washington trip over Mr Trump's insistence that the neighbouring country would pay for a wall along the US border. | |
| "He will start at a disadvantage and will have to play catch-up to build trust with his foreign counterparts and with State Department employees," said John Bellinger, a State Department legal adviser under Republican President George W Bush. | |
| Also on Wednesday, Republicans on a US Senate committee pushed through the approval of Mr Trump's Treasury nominee Steven Mnuchin and Health and Human Services pick, Tom Price. | Also on Wednesday, Republicans on a US Senate committee pushed through the approval of Mr Trump's Treasury nominee Steven Mnuchin and Health and Human Services pick, Tom Price. |
| Trump cabinet choices advance despite Democrats' efforts | |
| Who is Trump's attorney general pick Jeff Sessions? | |
| After Democrats boycotted committee votes on both nominees, Republicans changed the rules to approve the candidates without their votes. | After Democrats boycotted committee votes on both nominees, Republicans changed the rules to approve the candidates without their votes. |
| Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions was also confirmed as Mr Trump's attorney general, despite heated exchanges between Senate committee members. | |
| But Senate Democrats managed to stall a confirmation for Mr Trump's pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency by refusing to show up. |