‘People had to pray a bit longer’: Tillerson jokes after late arrival for State Dept speech
Newly appointed Secretary of State Rex Tillerson addressed State Department employees for the first time on Thursday, making an opening quip which captured the unease felt by many in the wake of President Donald Trump’s election.
“We apologize for being late,” Tillerson said as he began his address. “It seemed that this year’s prayer breakfast people felt the need to pray a little longer.”
"For some reason at this year's prayer breakfast, people felt like praying a little longer." - Rex Tillerson
— Rachel Pokay (@OkayPokay) February 2, 2017
Uh, yeah. pic.twitter.com/deHLvFerAk
Tillerson trolling Trump? Opens speech saying he was late fr Prayer Bfast because "this year, people felt the need to pray a little longer."
— Kristin Johnson (@KSuzJ) February 2, 2017
@BraddJaffy@CapehartJ high brow shade for the orange in chief me thinks!
— iDreamOutloud (@tricebhasstyle) February 2, 2017
Tillerson had just come from the National Prayer Breakfast, an annual bipartisan event, where Donald Trump called on the group to pray for better ratings for his former reality show ‘The Celebrity Apprentice’.
Tillerson’s joke was met with enthusiastic laughter by his State Department employees.
On social media, people expressed their appreciation for the former ExxonMobil CEO’s sense of humor.
Rex Tillerson is just another Trump corporate criminal but it's nice to hear someone in DC w/ a sense of humor and adult vocabulary speak pic.twitter.com/vNoXJVnngB
— RAZORBLADE CUPCAKE (@rzrbladecupcake) February 2, 2017
Damn Tillerson just come out and. Said-"It seemed this years prayer breakfast, people felt the need to pray a little longer"
— WeThePeople🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@PrincessBravato) February 2, 2017
😂😂😂😂😂
@FoxNews@TeresaC85469500 Tillerson is killing it, combining humility,humor and a sense of seriousness, of purpose. Another #Trump winner!
— RON COULTER (@RONCOULTER) February 2, 2017
Tillerson opens with a joke about the people at this year’s prayer breakfast needing to “pray a little longer.” It’s funny cause it’s true.
— Lauren Selsky (@LJSelsky) February 2, 2017
@realDonaldTrump rex tillerson publicly insulted you within 24 hours of being sworn in. https://t.co/D6vVO95CQr
— Mike (@mikesbadtweets) February 2, 2017
Others couldn’t resist suggesting Tillerson’s own appointment was reason enough for extra prayer.
@jeffzeleny probably because the CEO of exxon mobil is now our sec of state
— Danny (@caliwisco1) February 2, 2017
@jeffzeleny@JoeMyGod If he had had a mirror, he could have understood why everyone is praying longer .
— Rex Schneider (@Waldenfrosch) February 2, 2017
@BraddJaffy glad to see they keep their sense of humor. Destroying a country can get to serious.
— Doug Davèy (@9ce45e0c84b5476) February 2, 2017
