Republicans are breaking with Trump over his Russia sanctions waiver, an executive order he signed Friday night that puts on hold the sanctions and tariffs in a law he signed just last month to pressure Russia into ending its war in Ukraine.
The law, the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, is named for the late South Carolina senator who championed it before his unexpected death in July. Trump signed it on September 18. Sanctions are financial penalties meant to cut off a country’s money, and these were aimed at squeezing the funding behind Russia’s war.
“Lindsey would be appalled,” Sen. John Cornyn of Texas wrote on X.
He was far from alone. Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina called the decision unconscionable, and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas said Trump made a mistake. House Speaker Mike Johnson said he had warned the White House about “unintended consequences.” Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas asked Trump to reverse course, and Rep. French Hill of Arkansas said the country should be increasing economic pressure on Russia, not easing up.
The criticism even reached Graham’s family. His sister, Darline Graham, told the Associated Press she disagrees with the decision.
Trump did have the power to do it. Congress built a waiver into the Graham Act, and Trump submitted a certification to Congress saying the waiver is in the national interests of the United States. The White House, through spokeswoman Taylor Rogers, claims enforcing the sanctions now would get in the way of U.S. efforts to negotiate a lasting peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. The administration also describes the waiver as a pause rather than an end to the sanctions.
Not every Republican is upset. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, one of only seven House Republicans who voted against the bill, said he was glad Trump used the authority Congress gave him to waive most of what Massie called a “stupid law.”
Democrats piled on. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned the move, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, who played a major role in passing the sanctions bill, called it a “craven, cowardly action.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also condemned the order.
The Russia sanctions waiver comes days after another fight over Russia. Trump recently struck a deal allowing Russia to sell diesel to the United States and the world market amid global fuel shortages, and five House Republicans have already written to him urging him to cancel it. Lawmakers in both parties are expected to push back on both moves when Congress returns after the November 3 midterm elections.
