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

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Autocratic forces are ascendant in America. But truth-telling independent media is one remaining bulwark against the unrestrained exercise of power. At a time when billionaire owners of corporate media are making accommodations to political leaders, our nonprofit newsroom cannot be bought or broken. Please stand with us.

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:

I have chosen one of the truly great business leaders of the world, Rex Tillerson, Chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil, to be Secretary of State.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 13, 2016

The thing I like best about Rex Tillerson is that he has vast experience at dealing successfully with all types of foreign governments.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 13, 2016

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 13, 2016

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.