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State Department distances itself from Trump, creating an alternate U.S. foreign policy
Source: Washington Post
State Department distances itself from Trump, creating an alternate U.S. foreign policy
By Josh Rogin June 6 at 5:52 PM
Listening to Tuesday’s first ever State Department briefing by new spokeswoman Heather Nauert, one might get the impression that the United States is conducting traditional, balanced and even somewhat nuanced foreign policy on the world stage. The problem is, of course, that President Trump’s own statements on foreign policy destroy that image and there’s no effort by either side to address the resulting contradictions.
Nauert, a former Fox News host, waited five weeks before taking to the lectern to meet the State Department press corps, which is filled with seasoned diplomatic reporters steeped in the nuances of international issues. She was well prepared, firm but not combative and began by praising the diplomatic corps and the media for doing their jobs in service to the United States and the ideals America represents.
The press corps, in turn, treated her with respect without pulling punches, a clear effort to set the relationship on the right foot and give her time to adjust to the new spotlight. But as the briefing wore on, the sheer disconnect between what Nauert was explaining as State Department policy and what the White House and Trump have said was striking.
The first example was when Nauert was asked why the State Department issued a statement Monday praising the work of Babatunde Osotimehin, the executive director of the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA), who died this week. The White House’s proposed budget would zero out U.S. funding for UNFPA.
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By Josh Rogin June 6 at 5:52 PM
Listening to Tuesday’s first ever State Department briefing by new spokeswoman Heather Nauert, one might get the impression that the United States is conducting traditional, balanced and even somewhat nuanced foreign policy on the world stage. The problem is, of course, that President Trump’s own statements on foreign policy destroy that image and there’s no effort by either side to address the resulting contradictions.
Nauert, a former Fox News host, waited five weeks before taking to the lectern to meet the State Department press corps, which is filled with seasoned diplomatic reporters steeped in the nuances of international issues. She was well prepared, firm but not combative and began by praising the diplomatic corps and the media for doing their jobs in service to the United States and the ideals America represents.
The press corps, in turn, treated her with respect without pulling punches, a clear effort to set the relationship on the right foot and give her time to adjust to the new spotlight. But as the briefing wore on, the sheer disconnect between what Nauert was explaining as State Department policy and what the White House and Trump have said was striking.
The first example was when Nauert was asked why the State Department issued a statement Monday praising the work of Babatunde Osotimehin, the executive director of the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA), who died this week. The White House’s proposed budget would zero out U.S. funding for UNFPA.
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Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/josh-rogin/wp/2017/06/06/state-department-distances-itself-from-trump-creating-an-alternate-u-s-foreign-policy/
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