Trump Waives Russia Sanctions Under Executive Authority

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday waiving Russia-related sanctions and tariffs before they took effect, relying on an exception in a law he signed last month. The order keeps the sanctions suspended until Trump or his senior officials decide that “further action is appropriate.”

The waiver and the law

Trump signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 in mid-September. The act aimed to increase pressure on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, which began in 2022. Four years have passed since the invasion began, according to the supplied key dates.

Within 30 days, the law would have imposed tariffs of up to 100% on goods imported from the five largest buyers of Russian crude oil or gas. It also covered countries that knowingly bought Russian oil or gas 30 days after enactment, as well as countries among the top five helping Russia evade sanctions. The measures included duties on Russian goods and penalties for purchasing Russian oil and gas.

The act lets the president waive sanctions by telling Congress he has determined they aren't in the national interest. Trump wrote that he had sent Congress a certification stating “the issuance of such a waiver at this time is in the national interests of the United States.” He added: “I am hereby waiving the application of such sanctions, restrictions, and duties provided for in the Graham Act.”

The bill passed the House with a majority of Republicans and 58 Democrats. Its main congressional backer was the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, who championed the effort before his unexpected death in July. NewsNation's account spells his first name “Lindsay.”

Energy policy and congressional objections

Trump's waiver came as he sought to lower fuel prices. He struck a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin allowing Russian diesel sales to the United States and world markets amid global fuel shortages, aiming to reduce U.S. fuel prices ahead of the midterm elections. The deal drew criticism from both parties.

On October 13, 12 senators from both parties, including six Republicans, urged Trump to enforce the Graham Act and called the diesel deal “a betrayal” to U.S. allies. They wrote that Congress had given the president authority “to broker a just and fair peace,” and said the legislation required economic pressure on Russia and the chief enablers of its war, “in particular China.”

Five Republican lawmakers joined Democrats in a Thursday letter opposing the relief. “We urge the Administration to revoke this license and not issue further general licenses that reopen Russian energy transactions and restore revenue to the Kremlin's war chest,” they wrote.

Responses from abroad and at home

China and India, two of the largest buyers of Russian oil, had raised concerns about the legislation. Beijing said it “consistently opposed long-arm jurisdiction that lacks a basis in international law,” while India warned Washington that new tariffs could affect bilateral ties.

U.S. Representative Don Beyer said Trump was giving in to Putin. He called the waiver “Trump's latest surrender to Putin” and said it defied congressional intent. Sen. Thom Tillis called the decision “beyond irresponsible” and said the administration was “capitulating to a Russian dictator.” Rep. Jake Auchincloss called the diesel deal “shameful and dangerous” and said Congress should make its will known and work to implement it.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the waiver on October 17, saying that easing pressure on Russia would escalate the war. “The decision to cancel all of this, to block all of this, well, it seems to me that this is simply wrong and only helps the Russians,” he said. “This certainly does not stop the war.” Zelenskyy defended Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries as a way to pressure Russia's economy, which has financed Putin's nearly five-year war against Ukraine.

The article said analysts warned that sanctions could push oil prices higher. It also said rising fuel costs had become a liability for Republicans trying to retain control of Congress, with experts attributing soaring prices primarily to Trump's war against Iran.