Trump's Russia sanctions waiver sparks GOP revolt as lawmakers call move 'beyond irresponsible'

WASHINGTON, DC: GOP senators have registered their disapproval of President Donald Trump’s move to lift several Russian sanctions as he signed an executive order on Friday evening, October 16. The sanctions were imposed on the Kremlin to put pressure on it and stop its hostilities against Ukraine.

In September, Trump signed legislation to impose sweeping tariffs on the top five purchasers of Russian energy, or on countries helping Russia evade sanctions.

GOP senators lash out at Trump for waiving Russian sanctions

The move relieves several restrictions and duties targeting Moscow under the recently cleared Graham Act. It is also a part of America’s efforts to bring down soaring diesel prices in the US and global markets.

Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) were blunt in their assessment of President Trump’s executive order.

“Lindsey would be appalled,” Cornyn wrote on X early on Saturday, joining the chorus of critics against Trump’s decision to safeguard Russia from sanctions while it continues to attack Ukraine.

Thom Tillis, who, like John Cornyn, is leaving the Senate this fall, lashed out at the president for this sudden switch.

“Beyond irresponsible. What part of enforcing a law passed 86-11 by the Senate does the president and his advisors not understand?” Tillis wrote on X early Saturday.

“It’s unconscionable that this administration is capitulating to a Russian dictator who illegally invaded Ukraine and butchers innocent civilians every single day. If the president wants to actually bring down energy prices, he can do it by solving the Iran problem, not by doing a solid for Vladimir Putin,” he added.

“The president is prolonging the war, not ending it,” Rep Don Bacon (R-Neb) wrote on X, referring to Friday’s executive order.

What does Trump's executive order say

The Russian sanctions were championed and named after the late Senator Lindsey O Graham. Trump said the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 allows him to walk back “the application of any sanctions provision with respect to a foreign person.”

“I am hereby waiving the application of such sanctions, restrictions, and duties provided for in the Graham Act,” Trump said in the order.

Trump further said that issuance of such an order at the moment is in the national interest.

“I have submitted to the Congress a certification that the issuance of such a waiver at this time is in the national interests of the United States,” Trump added.

Responding to Trump’s national interest remark, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal called the move “cowardly” and said that it had nothing to do with national interest.

“These waivers have nothing to do with our national security, & everything to do with s*****g up to Vladimir Putin,” Blumenthal wrote in his post on X.

The move comes after the president struck a deal with Russia last week permitting the country to sell diesel products on world markets amid global fuel shortages. The deal prompted backlash from lawmakers across the board.

In an interview, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he felt “betrayed” by the president’s decision.