A report in the Washington Post about Rex Tillerson caused a flurry of speculation on Twitter that the secretary of state may be a vampire, a basilisk or perhaps even Medusa.

The Post reported that some career diplomats working under Tillerson “have been instructed not to speak to him directly ― or even make eye contact.” The report also said career State Department workers “swap paranoid stories about Tillerson that often turn out to be untrue,” so the veracity of the forbidden eye contact rule is unclear.

But that little tidbit caused Tillerson’s name to trend on Twitter late Thursday with more than 20,000 tweets weighing in, and many were wondering just what was up with America’s top diplomat.

Here’s a sampling:

What? Don't make eye contact? Or Rex will turn you into stone or what exactly?!? https://t.co/0aFddzZ6gy — Martina Navratilova (@Martina) March 31, 2017

As a Member of the House Foreign Affairs Cmte, I find this article disturbing. I'm worried about Rex Tillerson. Is he in over his head? https://t.co/L8hk6ox1Cq — Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) March 31, 2017

Rule #2: Never feed Tillerson after midnight or allow him to touch water. https://t.co/F6Uf6SaosL — Dell Cameron (@dellcam) March 31, 2017

Secret Service code name for Tillerson: Medusa. https://t.co/ccjJ0NS5Xd — Fatima Ayub (@thecynicist) March 31, 2017

Every time someone makes eye contact with Rex Tillerson while Mike Pence eats with a woman, an angel gets their wings. — Michael Blackman (@MBlackman37) March 31, 2017

Rex Tillerson is a basilisk. https://t.co/pbg6bMwM6y — Amanda (@TnTnTx03) March 31, 2017

Rex Tillerson read about Anna Wintour and was like “hold my drink” https://t.co/vB5juz1P0b — BEIGE (@POLYGONLIFER) March 31, 2017

If you look Tillerson in the eye you turn into crude oil. — hugh acheson (@HughAcheson) March 31, 2017

Can you imagine the outcry if Hillary Clinton had insisted that diplomats at State not make eye contact with her? https://t.co/W9DRmzw33c — Annie Lowrey (@AnnieLowrey) March 31, 2017

Is Rex Tillerson actually Miranda Priestly from Devil Wears Prada? pic.twitter.com/9nX2ARclMT — Jackie Thompson (@JackieFromKY) March 31, 2017

@HenryKraemer If you look directly into the eyes of Rex Tillerson he eats your soul — Dustin Czarny (@DustinCzarny) March 31, 2017

I'm dying to look Rex Tillerson in the eyes while wearing googly eyes. I just need to become a senior diplomat now. — Chris Peleo-Lazar (@ChrisPeleoLazar) March 31, 2017

when you make eye contact with Rex Tillerson pic.twitter.com/z5ut9eRToO — Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) March 31, 2017

@peterdaou @BadASSSery So, it's official: Rex Tillerson can suck your soul just by looking into his eyes. — Eva Leahey (@EvaLeahey) March 31, 2017

@jamisonfoser @Stonekettle No no, if you make eye contact, another Rex Tillerson will circle around and attack you from behind. — Gordon C. (@vfxgordon) March 31, 2017

State Dept employees told not to make eye contact with Rex Tillerson.



He's an irritable elderly vampire.



Like Bill Nighy in Underworld. — the invisible a (@the_invisible_a) March 31, 2017

White House Staffers are advised not to make eye contact with Rex Tillerson, because when you gaze into the abyss... — Nick Klaus (@nick_klaus) March 31, 2017

What happens if Mike Pence makes eye contact with Rex Tillerson, & their wives aren't there?



Come on, we're all adults here, we know. — Ned Pyle (@NerdPyle) March 31, 2017

In Rex Tillerson's defense, this is also how I ran the internship program at GQ. https://t.co/bOcYvgfz6f — Mark Byrne (@markwby) March 31, 2017

Joshua Roberts / Reuters A report in the Washington Post says some people who work for Secretary of State Rex Tillerson have been told not to make eye contact with him.