President Donald Trump waived sweeping new sanctions against Russia passed by Congress, arguing in an executive order Friday that the move “is in the national interests of the United States.”
Trump had signed the legislation, named for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., just last month. The bill took aim at Russia’s largest buyers of oil and gas, allowing the president to impose tariffs on goods from those countries, which may include China and India.
Passed with bipartisan support, the bill was intended to target Russia’s revenue streams as the country continues to wage its war against Ukraine.
Trump’s decision to put a hold on the sanctions package comes after he announced a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week to release hundreds of thousands of tons of Russian diesel fuel onto the global market as fuel prices soar.
The president quickly faced backlash over the deal, including from Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who told NBC News over the weekend that he believes “there’s a legitimate case for saying the president’s not following the law.”
“We were very clear that Russia is the aggressor,” Tillis said. “Russia is the one who can end this war by backing out of territory that they occupied.”
Trump’s deal and his move to pause the sanctions against Russia come as the price of diesel fuel has shot up almost 70% since the war in Iran began in February.
The executive order comes less than three weeks before the midterm elections, as cost of living remains a top issue for voters.
Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., who co-sponsored the bill named for her late brother, has touted its success as a key part of her campaign to win a full term in his Senate seat. Graham is a fierce Trump ally, as his endorsement was critical in her GOP primary win, and she has yet to criticize the president for his Russian oil deal or the decision to halt the sanctions.
The legislation states that before the administration waives the new sanctions, it must submit an unclassified report to Congress explaining its basis. In his executive order, Trump said the White House has sent the report to Capitol Hill.
