Now-former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was reportedly blindsided by his ouster at the State Department.
President Donald Trump tweeted Tuesday that CIA Director Mike Pompeo will replace Tillerson as the new secretary of state.
Trump said in a statement he and Tillerson "have been talking about this for a long time." But State Department officials told reporters Tillerson was caught by surprise and had intended to stay in his current role.
Outlets report White House staff and several senior Republican aides were also taken aback by the news.
Additional reporting from Newsy affiliate CNN.
