The White House says President Donald Trump remains confident in Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
White House Press Secretary Huckabee Sanders told reporters aboard Air Force One: "If the president doesn't have confidence in somebody, they will no longer remain in their position."
Tillerson delivered a statement Wednesday denying he ever considered abandoning his job as Trump's top diplomat. He disputed what he called "erroneous" reports he was on the verge of resigning this summer amid mounting policy disputes with the White House.
Speaking to reporters in Las Vegas after visiting with victims of Sunday night's shooting, President Trump said he was "very honored" by Tillerson's comments.
"It was fake news," Trump said of the NBC News report, speaking at the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada. "It was a totally phony story.
"It was made up. If was made up by NBC. They just made it up.
"Total confidence in Rex," Trump added. "I have total confidence."
Tillerson, however, did not deny an NBC story he had called the president a "moron" after a contentious July 20 meeting at the Pentagon.
Trump tweeted the story was "#FakeNews" and called on NBC to "issue an apology to AMERICA!"
Newsmax writer Todd Beamon contributed to this report.
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