Tillerson Denounces Racism, Pledges More Diverse Diplomats
- He makes no mention of Trump’s comments on Charlottesville
- Bigotry is ‘antithetical to the American idea,’ he says
Rex Tillerson, U.S. secretary of State, speaks at a news conference at the State Department in Washington, D.C., on Thursday.
Photographer: Andrew Harrer/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson announced a push to bring more minorities into the State Department, denouncing racism and hate speech as “antithetical to the American idea” while stopping short of singling out President Donald Trump’s comments on Charlottesville.
Telling student interns and fellows at the State Department that race relations are “a topic that’s on everyone’s mind,” Tillerson said Friday that he’s directing hiring committees to ensure that candidates for every U.S. ambassadorship include at least one minority.