Steve Goldstein, top spokesman for Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, was fired Tuesday for contradicting the official administration account of Tillerson's own firing, a White House official told NBC News. A State Department official confirmed the firing of Goldstein, who was an undersecretary of State, to NBC News, as well. Goldstein had only been in post since Dec. 4. Trump announced over Twitter on Tuesday that he was replacing Tillerson with CIA Director Mike Pompeo. Goldstein said soon afterward that Tillerson had not spoken directly about the move with the president.

Irwin Steven Goldstein, of New York, during his confirmation hearing to be Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy at the United States Department of State, before the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on November 1st, 2017. Alex Edelman | picture-alliance | dpa | AP

"The Secretary had every intention of remaining because of the tangible progress made on critical national security issues," a statement issued by Goldstein said. "The Secretary did not speak to the President this morning and is unaware of the reason, but he is grateful for the opportunity to serve, and still believes strongly that public service is a noble calling and not to be regretted." NBC News reported that Tillerson had learned of his firing from Trump's tweet. Tweet Tillerson later said he will give up his duties at the end of Tuesday and officially leave the job at the end of the month. Goldstein had been senior vice president of BP Global Solutions before joining the State Department.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson speaks to members of the media at the State Department October 13, 2017 in Washington, DC. Alex Wong | Getty Images