WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement after President-elect Donald Trump announced he will nominate Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson to be secretary of state:

“Mr. Trump's nomination of Rex Tillerson for secretary of state is sending a very troubling message to the international community. Not only is Mr. Tillerson a pal of Russia's authoritarian leader, Vladimir Putin, but he is the head of one of the largest oil companies in the world. In this appointment, Mr. Trump is making it abundantly clear that the short-term profits of the fossil fuel industry are more important than climate change and the future of the planet. Very sad. Very dangerous. Mr. Tillerson must be opposed.”