President Donald Trump cannot survive the repeated scandals concerning his campaign's ties to Russia without adopting a new strategy of "radical transparency," according to an editorial in The Wall Street Journal.
Comparing Trump's controversies to former President Bill Clinton, the Journal's editorial board determine that the Republicans cannot use the same "stonewall strategy," because he doesn't have the support from the media or the GOP.
He also can't afford a "death by a thousand cuts of selective leaks, often out of context, from political opponents."
To fight this, the Journal recommend that Trump push total transparency.
"That means every meeting with any Russian or any American with Russian business ties. Every phone call or email. And every Trump business relationship with Russians going back years. This should include every relevant part of Mr. Trump's tax returns, which the president will resist but Mr. [Robert] Mueller is sure to seek anyway."
The editorial board acknowledge that "Trump will probably ignore this advice," but with an ongoing special investigation and falling approval numbers, Trump can't afford more damaging leaks or revelations.
"If Mr. Trump's approval rating stays under 40 percent into next year," the editorial warns, "Republicans will begin to separate themselves from an unpopular president in a (probably forlorn) attempt to save their majorities in Congress.
"If Democrats win the House, the investigations into every aspect of the Trump business empire, the 2016 campaign and the administration will multiply. Impeachment will be a constant undercurrent if not an active threat. His supporters will become demoralized."