Rex Tillerson, the frontrunner for the role, will be revealed as the Trump’s choice on Tuesday morning, US time, government officials told Reuters, reports City AM.
The Trump transition team sought approval from a host of former heavy-hitting politicians including two former secretaries of state, James Baker and Condoleeza Rice, and ex-defense secretary Robert Gates. Such approval is believed to be pivotal in gaining Senate approval for the role given Tillerson’s close ties to Russia.
In 2013, President Vladimir Putin awarded the Order of Friendship to Tillerson, citing his work “strengthening cooperation in the energy sector.”
However, Trump believes Tillerson can adequately address any questions about his ties to Russia, an official said.
The President-elect has also announced he will need to push back a formal announcement of how he will extricate himself from running his business empire when he takes office.
His various business interests, which include a golf resort in Scotland, present a significant conflict of interest for the man who will be making key economic decisions on behalf of the world superpower.
Trump was due to make announcement on Thursday to detail how he planned to separate himself.
But overnight a spokesperson for the President-elect said the announcement would be in January and gave no reason for the delay.
Trump Organization has previously said it was looking at new business structures to transfer control to three of his children prior Trump Sr taking office on 20 January.
