Driving the news: The White House on Friday evening released the text of an executive order detailing implementation of the Lindsey O. Graham Act sanctioning Russia and Iran, which Trump signed in September.
- The bill, named in honor of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, imposed sweeping new sanctions on Russia and countries that do business with it, including buyers of its oil.
- The order notes that the law allows the president to “waive enforcement of any sanctions provisions with respect to any foreign person, any restrictions on any person, and any obligations.”
- “I have submitted to Congress a certification that granting such a waiver at this time is in the national interest of the United States,” Trump said in his order.
What they say: Democrats quickly rejected the waiver.
- “Trump’s latest capitulation to Putin once again betrays our Ukrainian partners and defies Congress’s clear intent for legislation designed to punish Russia for its illegal war of aggression,” Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) said on X.
- “These waivers have nothing to do with our national security, and everything to do with subjugating Vladimir Putin. I hope my Republican colleagues will join me in condemning this cowardly and cowardly action,” Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) said on X.
The big picture: The waiver caps a historic week in recent U.S.-Russian relations, during which Trump abruptly eased pressure on several fronts.
- Whether it’s the diesel deal, a fight over Ukraine’s ability to use Starlink to defend against Russian munitions, or a public denial of Russia’s involvement in the Iran war, Trump has spent recent days evolving America’s position toward an old enemy.
- By renouncing the so-called secondary sanctions of the Graham Act, Trump will also avoid putting new pressure on China and India, the main buyers of Russian oil.
The essentials: The more the bipartisan anti-Russia chorus grows, the more Trump redoubles his efforts to ease the pressure.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with additional details.
Ben Geman contributed.
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