Details of the chat were revealed Wednesday in a readout from Pakistan’s government. “You are a terrific guy,” Trump is quoted as telling Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. “You are doing amazing work which is visible in every way.”

Trump described Pakistan as a “fantastic country, fantastic place of fantastic people.”

Did the White House agree with Trump’s assessment?

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“The United States’ relationship with Pakistan is one that is quite complicated,” Earnest began before quickly pivoting to an evaluation of the fantastic diplomats who work at the State Department and provide presidents with detailed briefings before talks with foreign leaders.

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“Every president benefits enormously from the expertise and service of thousands of patriotic Americans at the State Department,” Earnest said. President Obama had also relied on their “professionalism,” “expertise and advice” before meeting with world leaders, Earnest added.

So was Earnest suggesting that Trump’s conversation with the Pakistani prime minister was something less than fantastic? Could his response "be read as some kind of tacit criticism" of Trump, one reporter asked.

"I think I'm just making the observation that there are dedicated experts, public servants at the State Department,” Earnest replied.