Trump faces bipartisan backlash for waiving new Russia sanctions
President Donald Trump waived new sanctions on Russia two days before they were set to take effect. Republicans and Democrats in Congress sharply criticized the move. Trump says he does not want to drive Russia away from peace talks over its war in Ukraine.
President Donald Trump is facing criticism from both parties after waiving new sanctions on Russia two days before they were set to take effect, CBS News and NBC News reported.
Congress passed the sanctions in a bipartisan bill championed by the late Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who died before it passed, CBS reported. Trump signed it into law Sept. 18. The measures were meant to punish top Russian figures and the biggest buyers of Russian oil and gas. The law lets the president waive parts of it if he certifies that doing so is "in the national interests of the United States."
"I am hereby waiving the application of such sanctions, restrictions, and duties provided for in the Graham Act," Trump said in an executive order Friday, CBS reported. The order did not explain the decision.
It came a week after Trump eased sanctions on Russia's energy sector and announced a deal to import Russian diesel, CBS reported. NBC described the moves as part of a run of actions over two weeks that favor Russia and hurt Ukraine, raising alarm among U.S. allies and lawmakers.
Republicans were among the harshest critics. Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina called it "beyond irresponsible." Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said, "Lindsey would be appalled." Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska wrote that "the president is prolonging the war, not ending it." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called it "Trump's deal with the devil," CBS reported.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said undoing the law "definitely helps only the Russians," according to CBS.
Trump defended the move Sunday. "I am in the process of negotiating Peace in the war between Russia and Ukraine, and don't want to do anything that will drive, foolishly, Russia away from the bargaining table," he wrote on Truth Social. On Monday, he said, "Russia, frankly, has been fine on Ukraine."
The administration is under pressure to bring down fuel prices before the midterm elections, CBS reported.
What we know: Trump waived the Graham Act sanctions, and lawmakers from both parties objected.
What we don't: Whether Congress will try to restore the sanctions.
Where outlets agree CBS News and NBC News both report that Trump waived new Russia sanctions and cut a diesel deal with Moscow, alarming lawmakers and allies.
Where they differ Trump says the waiver keeps Russia at the bargaining table, while lawmakers in both parties say it helps Russia prolong its war in Ukraine.