December 13, 2016

Donald Trump Taps Rick Perry for Energy Secretary and Rex Tillerson for Secretary of State

The former Texas governor once said he wanted to eliminate the agency he’s been selected to lead.


After weeks of intense speculation, Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he had chosen Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson as his nominee for secretary of state. The president-elect made the official announcement on Twitter:

Shortly afterward, the Associated Press and other media outlets reported that Trump had tapped former Texas Gov. Rick Perry to lead the Department of Energy. During a Republican presidential debate in 2011, Perry said he wanted to get rid of the federal agency but could not remember its name. 

Since Tillerson was first spotted at Trump Tower on Saturday, both Democrats and Republicans have voiced strong concerns over his close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

More Mother Jones reporting on Climate Desk

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BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

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