nobody has more respect for women than me. this came just eight days after the hollywood access tape. rex tillerson is denying tension between himself and the president. in a new interview also refusing to say whether he once called the president a moron. nbc's kelly o'donnell has the latest. >> reporter: the nation's top diplomat being diplomatic. >> the president's a very unconventional person. as we all know in terms of how he communicates and likes to create action. >> secretary of state rex tillerson out front defending himself in part by attacking washington. >> this is a town that seems to relish on the gossip rumor, innuendo, feed on it. feed on it in a destructive way. >> one uncomfortable word, moron, causing tillerson grief. >> not going to dignify the question. >> question follows reports by nbc news tillerson called the president a moron after a july