Russian President Vladimir Putin joked Thursday that he regretting giving Secretary of State Rex Tillerson a Russian "order of friendship" medal in 2013.
"We awarded your compatriot Mr. Tillerson the Order of Friendship, but he seems to have fallen in with the wrong company and to be steering in the other direction," Putin said to a U.S. citizen at a Vladivostok, Russia forum, according to Reuters.
"I hope that the wind of cooperation, friendship, and reciprocity will eventually put him on the right path," Putin added.
Tillerson was awarded the medal in 2013 when he was ExxonMobil CEO, due to his "significant contribution to strengthening cooperation in the energy sector," according to Reuters.
During the confirmation process for secretary of state, a number of U.S. officials commented on Tillerson gaining the honor.
On Dec. 11, 2016, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., criticized Tillerson in a tweet:
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., also questioned the award in January 2017.
"When I see what Vladimir Putin has done in the way of literally committing war crimes internationally — I'm pointing out precision weapons used in Aleppo to strike hospitals and kill innocent men, women, and children, that's just an example — then I question the recipient of a friendship award with Vladimir Putin," McCain said on CNN.
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