Trump leaves for Asia as tax reform and Russia probe heat up at home

President Trump will depart Friday for the longest overseas trip of his presidency under a cloud of controversy resulting from the indictment this week of two former campaign aides and the guilty plea of a third.

The trip, like others before it, could provide a welcome respite for Republicans and administration officials from the chaos of an investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russians to sway public opinion during the 2016 election. But it could also amplify any lingering contradictions in the administration’s North Korea strategy and deny him the chance to claim credit for any progress that occurs in his absence on the tax reform bill that House Republicans rolled out just one day before his departure.

"Obviously, it's never a good thing when campaign operatives are indicted, but it's not a deathblow, and obviously he is leaving behind a mixed bag of good news and what could be bad news for the White House," said Ford O'Connell, a Republican strategist.

"I think this is a situation where he can potentially get beyond his base, because something such as trade and military interests is something that really folks in both parties want to see," O'Connell said. "He's doing what are perceived, image-wise, very presidential things."

Trump’s foreign travel has helped him stabilize his presidency when Russia-related developments have rocked the White House in the past.