Environmental groups on Saturday ripped President-elect Donald Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE's reported pick of Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson for secretary of State.

NextGen Climate, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and the Sierra Club criticized the selection of Tillerson, who the New York Times said is expected to be offered the position this weekend.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Just when we thought Trump’s cabinet could not get farther away from the needs of the American people, he sneaks in a Saturday appointment of Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State," Greenpeace spokesperson Cassady Craighill said in a statement.

"In this position, Tillerson will try his hardest to silence global initiatives and the right of state attorney generals to hold fossil fuel companies legally accountable for climate change. We will not silenced, and we will not allow this cabinet of billionaires to steamroll the people," she added.

Billionaire environmental activist Tom Steyer said Tillerson's nomination "completes the takeover of our democracy by Big Oil, Wall Street and the Far Right."

"Mr. Tillerson manages to embody them all," the NextGen Climate president said in a statement, calling on the Senate to fight his nomination.

Sierra Club executive director Michael Brune also blasted the oil executive, arguing that the U.S. needs a secretary of State who will be able to address the issue of climate change on the world stage.

“At a time when the climate crisis is deepening, both the United States and the world deserve much better than having one of the planet’s top fossil fuel tycoons run U.S. foreign policy," Brune said in a statement.

"We urge Senators, who are elected to represent and protect the American people, to stand up for families across the country and the world and oppose this nomination,” said Brune, adding that he was "shocked but not surprised" by the announcement.

Friends of the Earth, a network of environmental groups, also called for the Senate to fight Tillerson's nomination.

"Rex Tillerson should be prosecuted for the climate fraud and lying that Exxon Mobil has commenced over the years, not nominated as Secretary of State," Friends of the Earth president Erich Pica said in a statement.

Other groups, including 350.org and Food & Water Watch, have also attacked Trump's reported selection of Tillerson and warned of negative environmental consequences should he be confirmed.