Trump calls reports on Tillerson's leaving 'fake news'

WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump on Friday denied media speculation that the White House plans to oust State Secretary Rex Tillerson, calling the reports "fake news".

"The media has been speculating that I fired Rex Tillerson or that he would be leaving soon -- FAKE NEWS!" said Trump on Twitter.

"He's not leaving... we work well together," he added.

Multiple major US news outlets reported on Thursday that the White House is planning to remove the current head of the State Department, as his relationship with Trump has been "strained".

The top US diplomat has been said to be replaced by incumbent Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Pompeo "within the next several weeks."

On Friday, Tillerson himself also brushed off the reports, calling them "laughable".

Tillerson is scheduled to begin an official trip to Europe next week, during which he will visit Brussels, Vienna and France, to meet leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and foreign ministers of the European Union members.