President Donald Trump signed an executive order late Friday exempting Russia from sweeping economic sanctions previously passed by Congress. The move follows a recent oil deal struck between the United States and the Russian government and comes amid rising energy prices that have become a central issue in the upcoming midterm elections. While the sanctions law was enacted with bipartisan support to bolster Ukraine's war effort, the executive order utilizes a waiver provision granted to the president for national security justifications.
What the Right Is Saying
Administration officials and supportive Republicans framed the waiver as a necessary step to address domestic economic concerns. The White House stated that waiving the sanctions is in the national security interest of the United States, primarily by addressing energy prices. Senator James Lankford, Republican of Oklahoma, defended the president's approach on NBC's "Meet The Press," noting that the administration is attempting to balance America's needs while considering how best to support Ukraine. Senator Darline Graham, who is running for a full term in South Carolina and is the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham—the primary champion of the sanctions law—told the Associated Press that she understood the president's concern about costs, though she affirmed her support for the sanctions to pressure Russia.
What the Left Is Saying
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York criticized the decision in a statement, arguing that the administration is prioritizing energy costs over geopolitical strategy. "By giving the Russian economy life support, Trump's deal with the devil keeps getting dirtier," Schumer said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed disbelief at the shift in U.S. policy during an interview on NBC's "Meet The Press." "If United States will support Putin, I mean, it's unbelievable. It's tragedy. It's historic mistake and big tragedy," Zelenskyy stated. He added that while Ukraine hopes the U.S. will remain on their side, the current trajectory is concerning for the war effort.
What the Numbers Show
The executive order was signed shortly after President Trump announced an oil deal with Russia and called for a leadership change in Ukraine. Analysts from the International Energy Agency (IEA) indicated that the recent diesel sales deal is unlikely to significantly lower the extremely high price of diesel fuel, which is critical for the transport of goods. The IEA identified supply disruptions due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, including the U.S.-Iran war, as the primary driver of current fuel costs. Congress passed the original sanctions law with robust bipartisan support, but the legislation includes a provision allowing the president to temporarily waive sanctions if a national security justification is provided. Congress is currently out of session for midterm campaigning and is not expected to return for several weeks.
The Bottom Line
Despite the political backlash, Congress has limited immediate recourse to reverse the executive order because the law explicitly grants the president waiver powers under specific conditions. Lawmakers are currently campaigning ahead of the midterms, and their return to Washington will be dominated by urgent legislative deadlines, including government funding, a farm aid bill, war funding, and the debt ceiling. If Republicans lose control of the Senate in the midterms, they may face additional pressure to process Trump appointees before the new Congress convenes in January. Analysts suggest that revisiting the sanctions waiver may not be a priority for lawmakers when they reconvene, leaving the policy shift in place for the near term.