U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., today praised Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson as "a very impressive individual" and said he looks forward to meeting with him soon and chairing the confirmation hearings in January for Tillerson, who was nominated today to become the next U.S. Secretary of State.
Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and one of the finalists among those considered to become U.S. Secretary of State, said in a statement today that, although he was not chosen, he appreciated how the selection process for the top cabinet post was conducted.
"I very much appreciated President-elect Trump calling me last night to let me know that he would be nominating Rex Tillerson for Secretary of State," Corker said in a statement today. "Mr. Tillerson is a very impressive individual and has an extraordinary working knowledge of the world. I congratulate him on his nomination and look forward to meeting with him and chairing his confirmation hearing."
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold a hearing on Tillerson's nomination in early January.
"On a personal note, it has been an honor to be considered for Secretary of State," Corker said in his statement. "I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with the President-elect and his team throughout this process and appreciate the deliberate manner in which he arrived at this decision. I look forward to working with him to move our country forward."
Corker, a former Chattanooga mayor who was elected to the U.S. senate in 2006, will have to decide in the next year whether he wants to run for a third term in the U.S. senate or perhaps run for Tennessee governor in 2018.