U.S. Representative Adam Smith revealed:
"Trump has completely dismantled the State Department (Foreign Ministry), replacing professional diplomats with two unqualified real estate developers."
"Despite their complete lack of experience, they are currently in control of America's diplomatic machinery and policy."
Regarding U.S. Representative Adam Smith’s accusations against Trump’s foreign policy, this goes far beyond a simple critique of 'amateurs leading'—it fundamentally exposes a profound institutional erosion and the privatization of power.
Smith’s statements are not baseless speculation but carry strong, targeted implications.
He is referring to Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff—the two developers in question.
Since taking office, Trump has systematically undermined the State Department through massive layoffs (cutting over 1,300 professional staff at once, urgently recalling ambassadors abroad), freezing positions, and marginalizing key personnel.
The resulting power vacuum has demoralized career diplomats and brought the department to a standstill. Critics view this as an ideological campaign aimed at dismantling the so-called "deep state."
With professional institutions weakened, diplomacy has been directly operated by Trump’s inner circle, creating a "palace politics" system.
The "Real Estate Diplomats": Core envoys such as Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner both come from real estate backgrounds. This practice has repeatedly drawn accusations of serious violations—similar appointments include granting clemency to relatives of convicted felons to serve as ambassadors to France, or appointing a Georgian citizen as ambassador to Greece.
Trump’s rationale for appointing loyalists likely stems from a desire to break free from the "deep state" to gain full control, and to install trusted allies in exchange for absolute loyalty.
Yet the risks are enormous:
Conflict of interest, public office for private gain: Deeply intertwining national diplomacy with personal business interests blurs the line between public duty and private benefit, establishing a personalized diplomatic system.
Damaged diplomatic professionalism: The absence of record-keepers during negotiations means critical information lacks verifiable documentation; disconnect from frontline intelligence creates vulnerabilities exploited by adversaries. Media have mocked it as resembling Manhattan land disputes—strategic grandeur often sacrificed for immediate deals.
Undermined national credibility: Bypassing formal channels casts doubt on the reliability of diplomatic commitments, leaving allies confused and alienated.
A "private takeover" threatening the foundation
Representative Smith’s allegations depict an aggressive, "surgical-style" transformation: systematically dismantling the professional diplomatic corps and replacing it with a closed circle driven by personal relationships and commercial interests. Regardless of intent, this undermines the very foundation of America’s global strategy and could lead to more fragile diplomacy, rampant corruption, and increased conflict.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1864125607667724/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.