President Donald Trump is being criticized for waiving a series of new sanctions placed on Russia.
As Axios reports, on Friday, October 17, Trump signed an executive order that pauses a series of sanctions against Russia contained with the Graham Act, which he signed last month.
The bill, named for late Senator Lindsay Graham, imposed a series of additional sanctions on Russia — in addition to countries doing business with Russia, particularly nations purchasing Russian oil. The bill was set to be implemented on October 18.
The act was passed by an overwhelming majority, with 86 votes in its favor and just 11 against.
Waiving Sanctions Said To Be in America’s ‘National Interest’
The executive order that Trump signed October 17, however, circumvents the planned implementation of the Graham Act by stating that the president has the authority to “waive the application of any sanctions provision with respect to a foreign person, any restriction with respect to a person, and any duty.”
In addition, the order claims that waiving those sanctions “is in the national interests of the United States.”
This unexpected waiver follows last week’s surprise deal easing pre-existing sanctions on Russia’s sale of diesel fuel. which was widely condemned by both Republicans and Democrats.
Ukraine responded to Trump’s diesel deal with Russia by bombing a Russian oil refinery. As BBC News reports, this led Trump to declare, “Time for Ukraine to get a new president.”
Bipartisan Condemnations
Trump’s latest move favoring Russia was similarly hit with backlash from both sides of the political divide.
For example, North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican, blasted the executve order in a post shared via X.
“Beyond irresponsible,” Tillis wrote. “What part of enforcing a law passed 86-11 by the Senate does the President and his advisors not understand? It’s unconscionable that this administration is capitulating to a Russian dictator who illegally invaded Ukraine and butchers innocent civilians every single day. If the President wants to actually bring down energy prices, he can do it by solving the Iran problem, not by doing a solid for Vladimir Putin.”
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) also weighed in on X, citing the bill’s namesake. “Lindsey would be appalled,” Cornyn wrote.
“The President is prolonging the war, not ending it,” Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) wrote of the executive order in his X post.
Meanwhile, Trump’s executive order received even harsher criticism from Democrats.
“Trump’s latest surrender to Putin again betrays our Ukrainian partners and defies clear congressional intent of legislation designed to punish Russia for its illegal war of aggression,” Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) posted on X.
“These waivers have nothing to do with our national security, & everything to do with sucking up to Vladimir Putin,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) bluntly wrote in his X post. “I hope my Republican colleagues will join me in condemning this craven, cowardly action,”
Ukraine ‘Betrayed’
In an interview with “Piers Morgan Uncensored,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fired back at Trump’s apparent support of Russia and abandonment of Ukraine.
“It is a pity that we are losing a strong partner,” Zelensky said during his appearance on the show (via The Telegraph), lamenting that the U.S. is no longer on “the right side of history.”
Asked by host Piers Morgan whether he felt “betrayed” by Trump, Zelensky replied, “Really, yes, between us. But it’s a little bit more complicated than just my emotions or my feelings. Our country has to survive, and we count on our real partners, strategic partners, the United States and President Trump.”
Citing Trump’s recent request that Ukraine stop targeting Russia’s oil infrastucture after the U.S. struck a deal with Russian on diesel fuel, Zelensky added, “They wanted us not to attack. My opinion was, it is not fair.” He continued by stating that Trump’s diesel deal with Russia was an “attempt to push Ukraine to capitulation”
Trump Hit With Bipartisan Backlash After Waiving New Russia Sanctions