washington tweet tweet debate percolate u.s. state department diplomats measure word demitasse spoon handle donald trump twitter commentary continue tweet become u.s. president jan. 20. tradition anything president say regard u.s. policy repeat foreign officials without fear contradiction least white house trump question bedrock plank u.s. policy whether taiwan part one china whether washington would defend nato ally cause consternation home abroad never hesitate take anything potus say speeches press conferences remark anything policy midlevel diplomat serve four continents write dec. internal state department discussion board reference president unite state potus tweet ask give president-elect penchant use twitter much spontaneous context usg officials fsos regard statements add refer u.s. government usg foreign service officer fsos theory firm grasp hyberbole sic practice sure one do make assumptions area least next four years diplomat add appeal state department bureau public affairs issue aldac formal message diplomatic consular post clarify matter post title tweet policy sound board forum state department intranet prompt thoughtful though equally perplex comment another official write confident president barack obama comment take seriously literally trump may want tweet take seriously figuratively write assume strategy would seem would create sense ambiguity around issue previously think settle purpose leverage good deal advance usg interest add miscommunication may purpose president elect tweet spokesman state department say would comment next administration president may use social media obama tweet since 2015 account potus rather suggest specific policies obama use handle encourage americans vote cheerlead hillary clinton trump election opponent remember recently decease include writer elie wiesel golfer arnold palmer twitter account realdonaldtrump trump mock clinton crook hillary attack former miss universe snip parent muslim american u.s. army captain die iraq soldier father speak nov. 27 tweet popular vote deduct millions people vote illegally provide evidence claim electoral officials deny trump lose popular vote close three million vote president-elect say definitively whether continue tweet jan. 20. trump transition team immediately respond request comment third official say entire government would need deal issue limit amount miscommunication specific potus tweet could engender great bette davis line go fasten seatbelt go bumpy ride write 'is tweet policy state department officials ponder