WASHINGTON _ President-elect Donald Trump's transition team early Tuesday announced that he would nominate ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson to serve as his secretary of State.
The announcement comes after a drawn-out process that saw names as diverse as 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and former CIA Director David Petraeus tossed about as possibilities.
"His tenacity, broad experience and deep understanding of geopolitics make him an excellent choice for Secretary of State," Trump said in his announcement. "He will promote regional stability and focus on the core national security interests of the United States."
Trump's consideration of Tillerson was criticized before the announcement because of his ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, including from Republican Sens. Marco Rubio and John McCain.
