In the past, hot issues were discussed, debated, thought about, cared about.
Yes,
now is different thanks to Trump and his Minions™.
Rather than meet with the press and talk about issues, Trump hides in the White House gorging on Tivo'ed TV shows and Tweeting to his base. He sends out his surrogates to talk for him and then often immediately counteracts what they say. Then he continues his attack on the media and then wonders why, when reporters are told his "gaggle" on AF1 was off the record, nobody writes about what he said...
Rather than getting out and meeting real people, Trump holds campaign style rallies that cater to his base. Rather than trying to be inclusive and try to expand his base, he lashes out at anybody who doesn't agree with him–often on the afore mentioned Twitter.
He goes to Europe for the G19+1 and is the "Ugly American", boorish and completely undisciplined and unpracticed in diplomacy. Then he goes to France and talk's about Macron's wife's figure.
He tries to take credit for getting Qatar attacked by the other counties in the region because Qatar supposedly financed terrorists then seems to remember they are an important partner with a huge navel base and has to send Tillerson to try to fix the mess he (Trump) made in the middle east. BTW, Trump and Tillerson are also doing cleanup for the cluster*ck Jared Kushner produced while trying to deal with Israel and the Palestinians.
So, how did cozying up to China's President Xi Jinping work out...North Korea launched a successful long range ballistic missile, but don't worry, Trump told off that "guy" off...
Donald J. Trump Verified account
@realDonaldTrump
North Korea has just launched another missile. Does this guy have anything better to do with his life? Hard to believe that South Korea.....
7:19 PM - 3 Jul 2017
Donald J. Trump Verified account
@realDonaldTrump
....and Japan will put up with this much longer. Perhaps China will put a heavy move on North Korea and end this nonsense once and for all!
7:24 PM - 3 Jul 2017
That's the President of the United States doing
Twitter Diplomacy™...this is how hot issues are now discussed, debated, thought about, cared about–thanks to Donald J Trump.
So, no, we've never been in this situation before in our lifetimes...and no, none of this is "normal" or acceptable...