Late Friday night, Donald Trump signed an executive order waiving the new sanctions and tariffs on Russia that Congress passed by huge bipartisan margins. They were set to take effect Sunday. Now they won't. Putin's team is celebrating, and even Republican senators are calling it a betrayal.
The Law Trump Signed Last Month
The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act was built to choke off the oil money funding Putin's war in Ukraine. It ordered a 500 percent tariff on Russian goods and up to 100 percent tariffs on the biggest buyers of Russian oil and gas, like China and India.
It was named for the late Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, who pushed it for over a year before his death in July. The Senate passed it 86 to 11. The House passed it 262 to 159. Trump signed it into law on September 18.
Gutted Two Days Before the Deadline
The order technically sets the tariff rates, then turns right around and waives every one of them. It also waives a key set of the law's sanctions. The waivers stay in place until administration officials decide otherwise, with no end date.
The White House said the move was "in the national interests of the United States." The order keeps older Russia sanctions in place, and Trump has argued that easing up on Russian energy will bring down fuel prices. It also means China and India face no fresh pressure for bankrolling Moscow.
Even REPUBLICANS Are Furious
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis called it "beyond irresponsible" and accused the administration of "capitulating to a Russian dictator who illegally invaded Ukraine." He said Trump should end the Iran war if he wants lower gas prices.
Republican Sen. John Cornyn wrote simply: "Lindsey would be appalled." Republican Rep. Don Bacon said "the president is prolonging the war, not ending it."
Notice the pattern. Tillis, Cornyn and Bacon are all on their way out of Congress. The Republicans still facing voters are mostly quiet.
The Kremlin Is Celebrating
Putin's envoy Kirill Dmitriev called the suspension "an important and truly historic moment." When the Kremlin is throwing you a parade, something has gone very wrong.
Ukraine's President Zelensky called it a sanctions blackout that rewards Putin and encourages more attacks. He also warned it won't stop here: "Sanctions will be lifted after gas." It came as Russia keeps pounding Ukraine's power grid heading into winter.
The Diesel Deal Came First
This didn't come out of nowhere. One week ago, Trump announced a deal with Putin to buy Russian diesel, and Treasury suspended sanctions on Russian diesel exports to make it happen.
The payoff for Americans is tiny. The whole deal equals about 10 days of U.S. diesel demand. Diesel prices have shot up almost 70 percent since Trump's war in Iran began in February. Russia gets a lifeline. Truckers and farmers get crumbs.
Congress Has Left Town
Lawmakers are on recess until after Election Day, so no quick fix is coming. Rep. Gregory Meeks has filed a bill to block the diesel deal. Sen. Elizabeth Warren said Trump is "thumbing his nose at Congress's direction" and urged Congress to reverse it.
And the Republican now holding Graham's seat? His sister, Sen. Darline Graham, co-sponsored the bill and has campaigned on it. She has yet to criticize Trump for gutting it.
The Bottom Line
Congress voted overwhelmingly to make Putin pay for his war. Trump signed it, waited a month, then quietly erased it on a Friday night. The Kremlin cheers, Ukraine bleeds, and most Republicans say nothing. Remember that on November 3.
Sources: Associated Press via PBS News (Lisa Mascaro); CBS News; CNBC; NBC News; Axios; BBC; White House executive order; Congress.gov.