DONALD TRUMP-TWITTER DIPLOMATIC DISRUPTIONS AND IMPACT ON THE POST-WORLD WAR II INTERNATIONAL ORDER.

Abstract

The emergence of social media platforms as instruments of statecraft has fundamentally altered the practice of international diplomacy. President Donald Trump's unprecedented use of Twitter as a direct channel for foreign policy communication disrupted established diplomatic norms inherited from the post-World War II international order. This departure from institutional frameworks presents significant challenges to the traditional mechanisms of multilateral consensus-building and creates new vulnerabilities in contemporary international relations. This study employs a mixed-methods approach consisting of three primary analytical components: (1) content analysis of Trump's social media communications, (2) examination of foreign policy outcomes resulting from digital engagement, and (3) comparative analysis with traditional diplomatic practices. This comprehensive approach enables assessment of how digital direct engagement differs fundamentally from established institutional diplomacy. This research aims to demonstrate that Trump's social media presidency constituted a significant departure from institutional diplomacy and contributed to broader challenges facing the established international order. The study specifically seeks to illustrate how technological platforms can reshape the conduct of diplomacy and challenge the legitimacy of traditional institutional frameworks. The findings reveal that digital direct engagement by heads of state bypasses institutional constraints, undermines multilateral consensus-building, and creates new vulnerabilities in international relations. This research contributes to International Relations scholarship by demonstrating the transformative potential of technological platforms in reshaping diplomatic practice. The implications of this research extend beyond Trump's presidency, suggesting permanent transformations in how states conduct diplomatic relations in the digital age. Future scholarship should examine institutional adaptations necessary to govern digital diplomacy and establish frameworks that balance the benefits of direct communication with the stability requirements of the international order.