Former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was fired by President Donald Trump on Monday after he refused a request to resign.

According to CNN, Tillerson officially learned of his firing on Tuesday morning when Trump informed the world in a tweet. But reports also said that Chief of Staff John Kelly had contacted Kelly on Friday to warn him.

Sources told AP’s Zeke Miller that Kelly had asked Tillerson to resign, but the secretary of state refused and forced Trump to personally take the action on Monday.

ADVERTISEMENT

WH official says chief of staff John Kelly called Tillerson Friday and again on Saturday. Both calls to Tillerson, the official says, warned that Trump was about to take imminent action if he did not step aside. When Tillerson didn't act, Trump fired him. — Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) March 13, 2018