White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Thursday refused to say whether President Trump has confidence in Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Rex Wayne TillersonGary Cohn: 'I haven't made up my mind' on vote for president in November Kushner says 'Alice in Wonderland' describes Trump presidency: Woodward book Conspicuous by their absence from the Republican Convention MORE.

Sanders was asked multiple times if Tillerson still enjoys Trump’s backing in response to reports the White House has hatched a plan to force him out.

“When the president loses confidence in someone, they will no longer serve in the capacity that they're in,” Sanders replied.

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The spokeswoman said Trump and Tillerson are “continuing to work together to close out what we’ve seen to be an incredible year.”

“I think his future right now is to continue working hard as the secretary of State, continue working with the president, to carry out his agenda,” Sanders added.

The comments are unlikely to quiet mounting speculation that Tillerson’s tenure at the State Department could be nearing its end.

Multiple news outlets reported Thursday the White House has hatched a plan to replace Tillerson with CIA Director Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoOvernight Defense: House Democrats unveil stopgap spending measure to GOP opposition | Bill includes .6B for new subs | Trump issues Iran sanctions after world shrugs at US action at UN Navalny calls on Russia to return clothes he was wearing when he fell ill US issues Iran sanctions to enforce UN action ignored by international community MORE.

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert also sought to shoot down the story, saying White House chief of staff John Kelly John Francis KellyMORE had called Tillerson to tell him the story was false.

But the denials have done little to quiet speculation that Tillerson is on the way out.

The president and secretary of State have long had a tense relationship, and Pompeo is seen as a loyal member of the Trump administration.

Trump ducked questions about the supposed plan earlier on Thursday.

“He's here. Rex is here,” the president said.