> 33 years
He grew up in a different era and I’d bet hasn’t progressed with technology. 33 years ago most in the state department could just pick up a phone and talk to their peer anywhere in the world. Or get their higher-ups on the phone right away (i.e. if the boss was playing golf, etc).
When it could take hours or even days to correct a statement to another country, it was very important that every statement said exactly what an experienced diplomat carefully created.
Many in the state department are still using processes and language that made sense when it could take over a month for George Washington to get a message to London and just as long to get an answer. Diplomats had to be very careful; account for potential changes during that time; let ambassadors know what was going on; and how to respond with different reactions from the King (especially if things had changed as the letter was traveling by ship).
Trump can offend Estonia with a tweet before breakfast; make up during breakfast; and let diplomats have a video call with peers to work out details that morning. The diplomats don’t have to be in Estonia, but can fly to most parts of the world in a day or hours if needed. Older diplomats who can’t understand that need to retire.
“He grew up in a different era and I’d bet hasn’t progressed with technology. 33 years ago most in the state department could just pick up a phone and talk to their peer anywhere in the world...”
I think it was Margaret Thatcher who made this observation:
you can trace the decline in the British Empire to the use of the telephone.