Republicans Join Democrats to Challenge Trump's Russian Diesel Import Deal
A group of Republican lawmakers has publicly opposed President Trump's agreement to import Russian diesel and are backing a bipartisan bill to block the arrangement.
President Trump announced a plan for Russia to supply over 300,000 tons of diesel immediately, followed by larger shipments in the coming months, claiming the move would lower fuel costs for American farmers, ranchers and truckers. In response, a handful of Republicans have voiced opposition: Rep. Don Bacon co-sponsored the Democratic “Prohibit Corrupt Russia Oil Deals Act” and joined a bipartisan letter with Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, Michael McCaul, Joe Wilson and Dan Newhouse urging the President to rescind the license.
Six GOP senators, including Thom Tillis, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Mitch McConnell, John Cornyn and Alan Armstrong, signed a separate letter stating the deal undermines U.S. security and violates the 2022 ban on Russian energy imports. The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued General License 135 at Trump’s direction, permitting transactions involving Russian diesel. Lawmakers are pressing the White House for clarification on how the new sanctions law will be applied by the October 18 deadline, demanding any waivers be narrow and time-limited.
Why it matters
The opposition highlights deep partisan splits over U.S. policy toward Russia and could affect fuel prices and sanctions enforcement.
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