A European Union (EU) official said 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 seems to have "no mandate" as he embarks on a trip to Europe this week, leaving Europeans "doubtful."

“Just as Tillerson comes to Brussels to give a public statement of support that the EU and NATO have wanted all along, it seems he has no mandate, that the guillotine is hanging over his head,” an EU official involved in diplomacy with White House officials told Reuters in a report published Sunday.

“It leaves Europe just as doubtful as before about Trump," the official added.

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Tillerson will travel to Brussels, Vienna and Paris this week to meet with the EU's chief diplomat, Federica Mogherini, and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, among others. He will also take part in NATO’s foreign ministers meeting.

News reports late last week indicated that the White House has developed a plan to oust Tillerson as secretary of State and replace him 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.

Tillerson has pushed back on such reports, calling them “laughable,” and saying “people need to get better sources.”

President Trump last week said Tillerson is “not leaving,” calling reports of his ouster “fake news.”

Trump and Tillerson have clashed at times over key foreign policy issues, including the Iran nuclear deal, the Paris climate accord and diplomatic options with North Korea.

National security adviser H.R. McMaster on Sunday said American allies don't require any reassurances that the Trump administration is "firmly in charge," despite questions surrounding Tillerson's future and the recent indictment of former national security adviser Michael Flynn.