Trump challenges Tillerson to compare IQ tests

Trump issued the challenge in an interview with Forbes magazine, when asked about reports that Tillerson called him a "moron" after a classified briefing this summer. The White House and the State Department suggested the president was "joking".

The White House and the State Department suggested that the president was simply trying to make light of what they describe as inaccurate reports of tension between Trump and Tillerson. (AP)
AP

The White House and the State Department suggested that the president was simply trying to make light of what they describe as inaccurate reports of tension between Trump and Tillerson. (AP)

Donald Trump's feud with top diplomat Rex Tillerson burst back into the open on Tuesday, after the US president joked that he and his secretary of state should compare IQ scores.

Having loudly dismissed reports that Tillerson had once called him a "moron," Trump refused to let the controversy go, renewing questions about Tillerson's future.

In an interview with Forbes magazine, Trump was asked about last week's report that Tillerson had insulted him behind his back – a story that both had already denied.

"I think it's fake news," Trump said, before allowing, "But if he did that, I guess we'll have to compare IQ tests. And I can tell you who is going to win."

The interview was published hours before the two men met in the White House for talks on Iran, Turkey and North Korea and then lunch with Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.

Ahead of the sit-down, Trump had insisted he still had confidence in the secretary of state, saying, "I did not undercut anybody. I don't believe in undercutting people."

But White House insiders say that Tillerson's refusal to personally deny an NBC News report that he labelled Trump a "moron" after a July meeting had only deepened the rift.

President 'allowed to joke'

After the meetings, White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders insisted there was no rift between the men – and that Trump does not think Tillerson is not intelligent.

"The president certainly never implied that the secretary of state was not incredibly intelligent. He made a joke, nothing more than that," Sanders insisted. 

"He has full confidence in the secretary of state. They had a great visit earlier today. And they are working hand in hand to move the president's agenda forward."

The State Department also suggested that the president was simply trying to make light of what they describe as inaccurate reports of tension.

Since the alleged insult was reported, White House chief of staff John Kelly has been struggling to keep a lid on the crisis, and on renewed rumours of Tillerson's departure.

But that effort that has been consistently thwarted by Trump's tweets and barbed remarks.

Last week, before the report of the insult was published, Trump took to Twitter to accuse the former ExxonMobil CEO of "wasting his time" trying to negotiate with North Korea.

The rebuke revived rumours that Tillerson is unhappy at his post, but he insists he has no intention of resigning.

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