Some U.S. Diplomats Stage Quiet Revolt Amid Tensions With Trump

“It’s an extraordinarily unusual situation for the Foreign Service,” said R. Nicholas Burns, who served as undersecretary of state for political affairs in the George W. Bush administration, traditionally the top-ranking position for career diplomats. “They pride themselves on being nonpartisan. You serve each president 150 percent.”

Mr. Burns said the conflicts were more difficult for diplomats at the senior level because their jobs require them to represent or issue statements on behalf of the United States government, sometimes with little guidance from the State Department.

Mr. Burns said, “There’s no question he used his best judgment yesterday.” But the State Department official said only that Mr. Lukens’ tweets “speak for themselves.”