Tillerson won't say if he called Trump a 'moron'

In an interview on CNN's "State of the Union," Tillerson told anchor Jake Tapper that he maintains a close and candid relationship with Trump, despite reports indicating Tillerson's frustrations with the commander in chief.

"Jake, as I indicated earlier when I was asked about that, I'm not going to deal with that kind of petty stuff," Tillerson said. "I mean, this is a town that seems to relish in gossip, rumor and innuendo. And they feed on it. They feed on it in a very destructive way. I don't work that way and I don't feel that way."

Tillerson's comments come after reports indicated that Trump's July 20 meeting at the Pentagon was a "difficult and tense" session. It was after that session that Tillerson, in a private conversation with fellow US officials, exasperatedly called the President a "moron," a comment that sparked new questions about the two men's relationship.

The broad-reaching session, held inside the secure conference room known as the "tank," came a day after a White House situation room meeting on Afghanistan.

Pressed repeatedly on the subject by Tapper on Sunday, Tillerson refused to budge.

"As I said, Jake, I'm not playing," he said, adding, "These are the games of Washington. These are the destructive games of this town. They're not helpful to anyone. And so my position is: I'm not playing ... You want to make a game out of it? I'm not playing."

Heather Nauert, the State Department spokeswoman, has denied Tillerson ever called the President a "moron."