Darline Graham says she would 'keep pressure' on Russia after Trump waives sanctions

WASHINGTON, DC: Senator Darline Graham, on Saturday, October 17, said that she would prefer to maintain economic pressure on Russia after President Donald Trump waived sanctions established under a law named for her late brother, Senator Lindsey Graham. 

Just a day before her remarks, the president signed an executive order on Friday, October 16, suspending the restrictions, which were intended to pressure Moscow to end its war against Ukraine. Darline Graham said that she supports the legislation but acknowledged that Trump could choose whether to use the sanctions, adding that she plans to discuss his decision with him next week.

Darline Graham says she prefers continued pressure on Russia

Speaking to reporters, Graham said that she and Trump shared the objective of ending the war and lowering fuel prices, but she would have chosen to maintain pressure on Moscow.

“The president and I share the same goal, which is to end the war, get gas and diesel prices down,” Graham said. “The sanctions bill is one of the tools he can use to do that. It's up to him whether or not he chooses to use it.”

The Senator added that “Personally, I would choose to keep the pressure on Russia … because I don't trust Putin, and I don't trust Russia.”

The legislation, known as the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, was signed into law in September after receiving broad bipartisan support. It targets Russia’s energy sector and provides the president with authority to impose tariffs on countries buying Russian oil and gas. The measure also extends sanctions against Iran for five years.

The late Senator Lindsey Graham had spent more than a year building support for tougher sanctions against Russia before his death earlier this year. His sister, Darline, highlighted the law as a key achievement while campaigning for a full term in the Senate after being appointed in July to succeed him.

Darline said that the bill had been important to her brother but acknowledged that he and Trump sometimes disagreed. “They had that relationship where they could agree to disagree sometimes,” she said.

Trump’s executive order said that waiving the sanctions was “in the national interests of the United States.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday also said that the administration wanted 60 days to assess the restrictions’ potential effects on the US and global economies amid pressure on energy supplies.

Trump faces criticism from Republicans and Democrats over waiver

Other lawmakers from both parties have also criticised the waiver. Senator John Cornyn wrote on social media that “Lindsey would be appalled.”

Senator Thom Tillis also described the decision as “beyond irresponsible,” while Senator Ted Cruz, called it “a mistake.”

Republican Senator Bill Cassidy also invoked the Lindsey Graham law in a post on X stating that "peace requires leverage."

Democratic Senator Dick Durbin also wrote that "Lindsey Graham, John McCain, and Ronald Reagan must be turning in their graves."

Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal also condemned the move, calling it a “craven, cowardly action.”