Rex Tillerson, Wrong Man for State

Donald Trump has lined up an impressive array of demonstrably capable people to fill the senior ranks of his administration.  His instincts have served him well, until now.

In the face of a political firestorm fanned by reports that the U.S. intelligence community is convinced Vladimir Putin’s Russia interfered in the recent presidential election campaign, Mr. Trump is considering making Exxon-Mobil chairman Rex Tillerson his Secretary of State.  While Mr. Tillerson is clearly an extraordinary executive, his business dealings and personal ties with Putin would make him a real liability for the President-elect.

Three Republican Senators – John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Marco Rubio – have already expressed concerns about a Tillerson nomination. That’s enough to sink it.  More will doubtless pile on.

At this time especially, Mr. Trump needs a Secretary of State unencumbered by any perceived pro-Kremlin alignment.  So does our country.