Trump waives new Russia sanctions under Graham law, drawing bipartisan backlash
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday waiving new sanctions on Russia set out in a law he signed last month, named for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, saying the move “is in the national interests of the United States.” Republicans and Democrats in Congress criticized the decision, and Ukraine’s president called it a “financial reward for Putin.”
What happened: The law, the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, targets the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas and lets the president impose tariffs on goods from those countries, which may include China and India, NBC News reported. It passed with strong bipartisan majorities, though many Democrats opposed it because it gave the president new tariff powers. The law requires the administration to send Congress an unclassified report explaining any waiver, and Trump’s order said the White House had sent it, NBC reported.
The administration’s case: Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Saturday that Trump wants 60 days “to analyze their impact on the U.S. and global economy given the pressure on global energy supplies,” NBC reported. Trump called it “a very good decision.” The waiver follows Trump’s deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week to release hundreds of thousands of tons of Russian diesel onto the global market; diesel prices are up almost 70% since the Iran war began in February, NBC said.
The backlash: “Beyond irresponsible,” Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., wrote on X, noting the law passed the Senate 86-11, NBC reported. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, called the waiver “a mistake,” and Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., said he did not support it. Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., the late senator’s sister, said she personally would choose to “keep the pressure on Russia” but that it was up to Trump. Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement that “Congress is not helpless” and pointed to a bipartisan bill he introduced this week, the Prohibit Corrupt Russian Oil Deals Act, which he said would end the administration’s partnership with the Russian energy industry.
Why it matters now: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said lifting the sanctions was “wrong” and “only helps the Russians,” NBC reported. The decision comes less than three weeks before the midterm elections, with cost of living a top issue for voters. Congress has not acted to reverse the waiver.