The malign precedent of Bolton’s book

Published June 23, 2020 4:00am ET



President Trump often says things that other presidents have been careful not to say. These are then used as justification by others for unprecedented actions that make it harder for this president to govern and will make it harder for future occupants of the Oval Office, too.

Just months into his presidency, transcripts of Trump’s calls to the leaders of Australia and Mexico were leaked to the press and published in full, an outrage that damaged foreign leaders’ confidence when talking to Washington. Leaked conversations inhibit the administrations in the conduct of diplomacy.

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