Trump Waives New Russia Sanctions in Late-Night Executive Order

Kevin Lamarque / REUTERS President Donald Trump has betrayed his longtime friend to hand Vladimir Putin a massive win.

Trump quietly signed an executive order late Friday night waiving sanctions and tariffs on Russia two days before they were set to take effect—under a law named after the late Republican Sen.

Lindsey Graham.

The Lindsey O.

Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, passed by Congress last month, sought to target Russian officials, oligarchs, and financial institutions and increase duties on Russian goods.

Graham, a Russia hawk, lobbied for the bill before he died in July at age 71.

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

“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.” The move followed Trump’s widely criticized decision to import Russian diesel in a bid to ease the global oil crisis sparked by his war against Iran, signaling continued coziness with Moscow as he called on Ukrainians to “get a new president.” Trump’s executive order swiftly drew bipartisan condemnation.

Republican Sen.

Thom Tillis of North Carolina called the move “beyond irresponsible.” “What part of enforcing a law passed 86-11 by the Senate does the President and his advisors not understand?” he wrote on X .

“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.” Democratic Rep.

Don Beyer of Virginia similarly called Trump’s order a “surrender” to Putin.

“Trump’s latest surrender to Putin again betrays our Ukrainian partners and defies clear congressional intent of legislation designed to punish Russia for its illegal war of aggression,” he said.