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Donald Trump has dominated headlines in the past three days as he embarks on a high-profile multi-nation trip across Asia. According to CBS News and Global News, Trump left for an extended summit tour that will include stops in Qatar, Malaysia for the ASEAN summit, Japan, and South Korea. While aboard Air Force One during his refueling stop in Qatar, Trump addressed reporters, emphasizing efforts around Middle East peace, specifically crediting Qatar for its role in recent Gaza ceasefires. He also discussed the potential deployment of Qatari troops should a stabilization force be needed in Gaza, and highlighted his administration’s influence on a ceasefire between India and Pakistan earlier this year.

Tensions with Canada have rapidly escalated during Trump’s trip. Various news networks such as Global News and CBS News report that Trump announced a new 10% tariff on Canadian imports. This move came in response to an anti-tariff campaign funded by the Ontario government that was broadcast to Americans during the World Series. Trump publicly accused Canada of misrepresenting facts and acting with hostility, and declared that the tariff increase would take effect immediately. Details remain unclear about precisely which products will be affected and whether the surcharge applies to goods already subject to existing sectoral tariffs or all Canadian imports not covered by NAFTA-type exemptions. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, meanwhile, is also in Asia, conducting parallel trade talks with other nations.

Relations with China are also in the spotlight. Trump anticipates a meeting with President Xi Jinping, with both leaders expected to address complex trade negotiations and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Trump asserted in interviews aboard Air Force One that he wants China to exert pressure on Russia to end the conflict and praised the effectiveness of existing economic sanctions against Russia.

Domestically, the government shutdown is entering its fourth week and has forced thousands of federal workers to go without pay. Global News and CBS Evening News both report that, in an unprecedented move, Trump’s administration accepted a $130 million private donation from billionaire banking heir Timothy Mellon to support military pay during the shutdown. This move, while temporarily easing hardship for military families, has raised significant legal and ethical concerns, with budget experts citing potential conflicts with federal law and constitutional intent. The donation comes as other private money has also reportedly funded a $300 million expansion of the White House, including a new ballroom, with contributions from major corporations and private donors.

The Republican Party and the Republican National Committee have been largely focused on supporting Trump’s international agenda and managing the fallout of the shutdown. However, internal and public attention now turns to how these controversies, especially the Canada tariffs and the military donation issue, will play into upcoming electoral cycles and Trump’s wider leadership of the party.

Former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, in an interview with The Economist, suggested there are ongoing efforts among Trump allies to explore ways to allow him a third term, despite constitutional limits. Bannon would not specify a strategy, and the idea has already sparked criticism and disbelief from opposition figures such as Kamala Harris, who dismissed Trump as a “tyrant” in a BBC interview and hinted at a possible future campaign.

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