- President Donald Trump is willing to sign a sweeping Russia sanctions bill targeting nations that buy Russian oil, gas and uranium, but only if he retains full control over how and when sanctions are applied.
- The White House is pushing to remove congressional oversight from the bill, arguing that the president’s foreign policy decisions shouldn’t be subject to legislative “micromanagement.”
- Sen. Lindsey Graham, who introduced the legislation, has agreed to allow a second 180-day waiver in the bill, but with congressional review, a provision Trump’s team wants to eliminate entirely.
- Trump’s shift toward supporting the bill is driven by personal frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he believes has disrespected his efforts to broker peace in Ukraine.
- Trump’s insistence on unchecked authority could undercut bipartisan support for the bill and trigger a broader clash over the separation of powers in U.S. foreign policy.
(Natural News)—President Donald Trump is prepared to sign sweeping legislation that would cripple Russia’s global trade, provided he retains full authority over how the sanctions are applied.
According to a senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, Trump is “conceptually open” to the bill, introduced by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). The legislation seeks to impose crippling economic penalties on countries that continue to purchase Russian oil, gas, uranium and other goods, including a striking 500 percent tariff.
However, Trump’s team is pushing for changes that would ensure the White House maintains unilateral authority over when and how those penalties are enforced.
“The current version would subject the president’s foreign policy decisions to micromanagement by Congress through a joint resolution of disapproval process. … That’s a nonstarter for us,” said the official. “The administration is not going to be micromanaged by Congress on the president’s foreign policy. The bill needs a waiver authority that is complete.”
Under the current draft, the president would be allowed to waive the tariffs for up to 180 days. After discussions with the White House, Graham said on Tuesday, July 8, that he’s agreed to amend the bill to allow a second 180-day waiver, though that second waiver would require congressional oversight.
Trump’s team, however, is pushing for even broader waiver powers.