Story highlights Tillerson said he doesn't see the US reversing course on emissions reductions in the future

US allies have largely panned the Trump administration's decision to leave the deal

Washington (CNN) The State Department is declining to say why Secretary of State Rex Tillerson did not attend President Donald Trump's announcement that he was pulling the US out of the Paris climate agreement.

A senior State Department official told CNN Thursday Tillerson wasn't planning on attending because he had other business at the State Department to attend to, but declined to elaborate.

Tillerson did not have any specific meeting listed in his public schedule at the time of the speech. His public schedule just said he was spending the day holding meetings and briefings at the State Department.

Despite his notable absence, the State Department would not officially confirm he was not in attendance, referring all questions to the White House.

CNN has reached out to the White House for comment.

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