Former President Donald Trump is reportedly considering plans to target cocaine facilities inside Venezuela as part of a wider strategy to combat drug trafficking in the region. Trump is preparing for his first big diplomatic journey to Asia. His schedule has him stopping in Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea. He will leave the White House at 11 p.m. ET. His dynamic visit to Malaysia features such a climactic, dramatic stand off with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
As conflict intensifies everywhere in the world, Trump’s expected military intervention in Venezuela harkens back to the War on Drugs’ glory days. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that our intelligence detected the vessel conducting illicit narcotics smuggling. It was en route along a well-traveled narco-trafficking corridor and was transporting narcotics.
Beyond his international dealings, Trump’s administration has drawn sharp criticism for domestic economic policy. He has recently imposed sanctions on Moscow and ended trade talks with Canada amid rising grocery prices, which he claims are “way down.” This new claim has already raised eyebrows and disbelief from political leaders on both sides of the aisle.
As Senator Tim Kaine let Donald Trump himself have it on these tariffs, proclaiming that the “madness must stop.” He promised that next week, Senate Democrats will force votes to roll back Donald Trump’s harmful tariffs on Canada and other countries, which have increased prices. It’s high time Republicans were made to choose between catering to Donald Trump or promoting the needs of average American families.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer remarked, “Americans cannot afford Donald Trump’s price-spiking tariff temper tantrums. These constant tantrums end up costing Americans real money.” He warned against viewing tariffs as a way to help American consumers pay less for things like food and medicine.
Yet even as Trump readies for his Asia trip, his administration faces the fallout from a government shutdown. Per American Progress, the shutdown has already caused 221 staffing shortages. Especially hard hit are sectors that require upfront development, such as air traffic control. Problems persisted at the control tower at Phoenix Sky Harbor from 8:30 p.m. ET to 1 a.m. ET, while staffing issues at Newark’s control tower have reportedly been resolved.
Lawmakers and travelers alike should be justifiably outraged by the conditions at FAA air traffic control facilities. Reports of further issues kept coming from the New York center all the way through 10 p.m. ET.
Today, Trump is creating this same intellectual space with his lawless and inflammatory approach to the practice of governance. Having just pardoned Changpeng Zhao, President Biden is reportedly considering more clemency for deserving wrongdoers. His administration’s answer is to direct a $130 million gift to supplement the pay of military service members during the unprecedented government shutdown.
Trump starts his diplomatic trip to Asia by meeting Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Next, he should elevate discussions with Xi Jinping when they both, fortuitously, will be in South Korea for a November summit of East Asian leaders. This trip couldn’t come at a more opportune moment, as both countries are working through emerging trade and security issues with their new neighbor to the south.
“We stand ready to pick up on that progress and build on that progress when the Americans are ready to have those discussions, because it will be for the benefit of workers in the United States, workers in Canada and families in both of our countries,” – Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney
