Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told senators Tuesday that he still supports the Paris climate change agreement, despite President Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from it.
Tillerson, the former CEO of Exxon Mobil Corp., was the most vocal voice in the Trump administration pushing the president to stay in the pact.
He told Sen. Ben CardinBen CardinRussia sanctions deal clears key Senate hurdle Overnight Energy: Tillerson maintains support for Paris deal despite Trump decision Overnight Regulation: FDA puts new nutrition labels on hold MORE (Md.), top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, that he respects Trump’s decision but disagrees with it.
He said Trump was “quite deliberative” in his consideration of the Paris pact. The president “took some time to come to his decision, particularly waiting until he had heard from European counterparts in the G7 on it,” Tillerson said.
The State Department is the chief agency responsible for international agreements and treaties. Under former President Barack ObamaBarack ObamaThe Hill’s History-Cast: Introducing Changing America How Trump awakened the Millennials Puerto Rico statehood bid a total failure MORE, Secretary of State John Kerry
John KerryTillerson: 'My view didn’t change' on Paris climate agreement CORRECTED: Three members of Mueller's team have donated to Democrats Kerry: New Iran sanctions may be dangerous MORE was the key point person in developing the Paris pact.
But Tillerson didn’t participate in Trump’s public events surrounding his decision earlier this month to pull out of the Paris deal, including a grand White House ceremony to announce the withdrawal.
Instead, Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt, an outspoken opponent of the Paris agreement, took the lead among administration officials in those events.