The second extraordinary challenge to Western diplomats came during the presidency of Donald Trump. His prolific social media use and outrageous, cavalier communication style seriously upended diplomatic efforts. In his first year, Trump tweeted more than 6,000 times on Truth Social and conducted 433 open press events. This busy wave of activity made a real-time obstacle for local leaders who had to read between the lines and react to announcements.
The most notable aspect of Trump’s communication strategy is how often and in what intervals he communicates. As for when to post, he rarely posts on the fly. For instance, he publishes Thursdays at midnight, Tuesdays at 11 am, Saturdays at 5 pm and Mondays at 11 pm. That careful timing places diplomats in other time zones at a severe disadvantage. European officials especially have a hard time with late-night announcements that upend their schedules.
Yes, the quantity of Trump’s messaging is mind-boggling. In case you think I may be exaggerating, the White House Stenographer’s Office has transcribed the equivalent of 2.4 million words from him. That’s 4x longer than Leo Tolstoy’s epic novel, “War and Peace.” His press conferences, daily if not more, routinely go on for close to two hours. They contribute a wealth of new information to this deep record.
A large share of Trump’s posts have mixed major market-moving revelations with his own self-promoting egocentric proclamations and conspiracy theories. For instance, he once claimed that China sells wind turbines to Europe but does not utilize them in their own energy production, stating, “They sell them to the stupid people that buy them, but don’t use them themselves.” This cocktail of disinformation can make diplomatic channels trickier, forcing diplomats and foreign affairs officials to cut through layers of fact and fiction.
On days when Trump was extra chatty, on some days he got up to an incredible 156 posts just on December 1th. These tweets have forced diplomats to intervene for fear of what his comments may mean for US foreign policy and the global market. One diplomat remarked on the potential consequences of Trump’s impulsive messages: “If he sees pictures on TV of a C-130 on a runway in Greenland and there is a Maga commentator spouting nonsense, you are in trouble.”
The unfiltered, rapid-fire nature of Trump’s social media activity has created a multi-million dollar fact-checking industry that sprung into existence during his presidency. His administration is infamous for giving out false information. For this reason, diplomats need to be on the lookout to equip themselves with the best available information to refute misstatements or any misleading narrative generated.
Trump’s social media presence presents monstrous pitfalls. His irregular but regularizing press conferences further muddy the water for diplomats. From this series of events, you get a pretty good look at his policy priorities. They open up opportunities for unscripted comments that can quickly change diplomatic atmospheres overnight. They mix in-depth journalism on tough topics with unexpected humor. This unfortunate combination too frequently has those in charge racing to react.
Some diplomats have found ways to proceed through this strange new world. They understand the need for effective rapid response mechanisms to contain whatever damage Trump’s comments or posts may cause. This quick turnaround time leads to an environment that is conducive to misinterpretation and miscommunication.
That’s what Trump is doing to the media with every tweet and every press conference. That frantic capital-intensive blinkered approach has a significant corrosive impact on international diplomacy. The challenges experienced by Western diplomats are a lesson in how real-time communication can upend age-old diplomatic norms.