Tillerson was scheduled to join Trump‘s meeting with al-Sarraj at the White House later Friday, and then have lunch with the president and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. Mattis is a Tillerson ally within Trump‘s often fractious Cabinet who declared Thursday there was „nothing to“ the reports of Tillerson‘s imminent demise.

Alongside al-Sarraj, Tillerson smiled and tried to appear unconcerned by the rumors about him. He is scheduled to begin an official trip to Europe next week.