"When the president loses confidence in someone, they will no longer serve here," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said when asked about reports of a staff shake-up.

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Trump considers plan to replace Tillerson: US officials

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis also dismissed reports on Thursday that President Donald Trump was considering a plan to oust Tillerson.

Asked what he made of Tillerson's reported pending departure, Mattis said: "I make nothing of it. There's nothing to it."

He was responding to a shouted question at the beginning of a meeting with the Libyan prime minister at the Pentagon.