There is only one person in charge of the executive branch, the POTUS. We elected a novice. What do you expect?
Actually, there is an Office of Protocol, and someone assigned to the President to prevent any faux pas — like the gift selection, how to greet heads of state, etc... EVERY President is a novice when it comes to most protocols, even if there were previously a lower level diplomat — different rules. Chances are they are completely dismissing the advice of their Protocol advisor who has probably been with the State Dept. through multiple administrations...