US President Donald Trump has defended his decision to exempt Russia from sweeping sanctions under a new law, calling it a “very good decision” for the US and the world, as the move drew criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike.
On Friday, Trump signed an executive order waiving key provisions of the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, also known as the Graham Act, which the US Congress passed last month. The legislation authorised punitive tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil and gas, including 100 per cent tariffs on the top five buyers, among them India and China.
The executive order states that the waivers will remain in effect until the President or the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the US Trade Representative, as appropriate, determines that further action is warranted.
Facing criticism over the decision, Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Miami on Saturday evening that many did not yet understand what it meant.
“A lot of you don't know what my decision is yet, but we'll figure it out, and you'll figure it out,” he said.
“It's a very good decision, and it's going to be a decision that's good for the country, and I think good for the world because we're really at a world stage,” Trump added.
Rubio says Trump wants 60 days to assess impact of sanctions
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump wanted to use a 60-day period to analyse the implications of imposing sanctions on Russia and tariffs on countries purchasing its oil for the global and American economies.
Rubio was responding to questions on Saturday evening ahead of his departure for a week-long tour of Uzbekistan and India. He is scheduled to visit India on Monday.
“I think the president wants to take the 60-day period of time to sort of analyse what imposing both sanctions and tariffs will mean to the global economy, and even to the US economy,” Rubio said in response to a question about the waivers granted under the Graham Act.
He said the waiver provisions were intended to give the administration time to assess developments affecting global energy supplies, including the Iran war, Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia and the Russia-Ukraine war.
“So I think you have to take all of that into account and weigh it against each other,” Rubio said.
Referring to India, he said the country had voluntarily diversified its energy portfolio but continued to source a substantial amount of energy from Russia because switching suppliers could not happen overnight.
“Then you've got countries like India, for example, that have voluntarily diversified their energy portfolio, but are still getting a substantial amount of energy from Russia because it's hard to pivot from one day to the next,” he said.
Rubio described India as an important ally and partner of the United States, adding that the President needed time to assess the situation and determine the right combination of measures.
Bipartisan criticism of Russia sanctions waiver
Trump's decision to waive the sanctions drew criticism from lawmakers across party lines, despite the Graham Act having received overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress last month.
Republican Senator Darlene Graham of South Carolina criticised the move. The legislation was championed by and named after her late brother, Senator Lindsey Graham, who worked on the bill before his death this summer. Darlene Graham was endorsed by Trump to fill the Senate seat that fell vacant following her brother's death.
“Personally, I would choose to put the pressure on Russia to end the war and get gas prices down, because I don’t trust Putin, and I don’t trust Russia,” she said.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina also condemned the decision, questioning why the administration was not enforcing a law that had passed the Senate by an 86-11 vote.
“Beyond irresponsible,” Tillis said on social media.
“What part of enforcing a law passed 86-11 by the Senate does the President and his advisors not understand,” he said.
“It's unconscionable that this administration is capitulating to a Russian dictator who illegally invaded Ukraine,” Tillis added.
He argued that Trump should focus on resolving the Iran war, which has been blamed for rising fuel prices, rather than easing pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas also criticised the decision, saying, “Lindsey would be appalled,” in reference to the late senator's work on the legislation.
Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts accused Trump of disregarding Congress and enabling Putin to continue Russia's war of aggression. She urged her colleagues to take action to reverse the decision.