President Donald Trump has waived nearly every Russia sanction and tariff in the Graham Act, the law named for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham that Congress passed by wide bipartisan margins last month. He signed the executive order on Friday, two days before the provisions were due to take effect on October 18.
Trump called it "a very good decision." Some of his own party disagreed.
What the order does
The Graham Act targets Russian officials and oligarchs, banks and the "shadow fleet" of tankers that moves Russian oil. Trump signed it into law in September, after Graham died in July.
According to ABC News, Friday's order waives nearly all of its operative Russia provisions, including:
- tariffs of up to 500% on Russian goods such as oil and gas
- tariffs of up to 100% on the top buyers of Russian crude and gas, and on countries helping Russia evade oil sanctions
- sanctions on foreign banks doing significant business with Russian state-owned banks
- bans on buying Russian sovereign debt and on U.S. investment in Russia
It does not revoke sanctions already imposed by earlier executive orders, but it waives the law's requirement that they stay in place. The waivers last until the president or the secretary of state decides otherwise.
The diesel deal
The waiver also clears the way for a deal under which Russia would supply hundreds of thousands of tons of diesel, part of Trump's effort to bring down fuel prices, which have risen with the wars involving Iran and Ukraine. The Treasury Department issued a licence allowing Russian diesel imports through April. Without the waiver, the law would have required tariffs on Russian petroleum products and sanctions on the ships carrying them.
It is the second time in two weeks that Trump has waived Russia sanctions, ABC News reported.
The White House's case
Trump told Congress the waivers serve "the national interests of the United States." White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said: "Enforcing the sanctions provisions now would impede ongoing U.S. efforts." She said the act gives the president "additional authorities to pursue a peaceful resolution."
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), one of seven Republicans who voted against the bill, backed Trump: "Glad to see Trump has used the executive authority granted to him by Congress."
Republicans who disagree
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), on Fox News on Saturday: "I think it was a mistake." Asked whether he would tell Trump not to do it, he said, "I would, yes." He added that Trump was likely focused on rising fuel costs.
Nikki Haley, Trump's former UN ambassador, called it a "terrible misjudgment of Putin" and wrote that some decisions "will go down as history-defining moments."
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) called it "beyond irresponsible" and "unconscionable that this administration is capitulating to a Russian dictator," noting the Senate passed the bill 86-11.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said Graham "would be appalled." Earlier in the week, Cornyn, Tillis, Mitch McConnell and Susan Collins had urged Trump to drop the diesel deal and enforce the sanctions.
Democrats and Kyiv
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.): "Trump just gave Putin the best birthday gift he'll get this year." Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who helped write the law, said the waivers were about "sucking up to Vladimir Putin," not national security.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the bill's supporters in Congress and said the waiver "definitely helps only the Russians" and "certainly does not stop the war." He has also warned that a Trump deal with Moscow would be "a tragedy" and "a historic mistake," the AP reported.
What to watch
Congress. Whether senators who passed the law 86-11 try to force the sanctions back, and whether enough Republicans join them.
Fuel prices. Whether Russian diesel reaches the market and moves prices before the November 3 midterms.
Moscow. Whether the waiver is followed by any movement toward a ceasefire in Ukraine; the White House says the law's authorities are meant to help "pursue a peaceful resolution."
Published Sunday, October 18, 2026. Details of the executive order are from ABC News; reactions are from ABC News, Fox Business and the AP. The photo is a file image from the Trump–Putin summit in Alaska in August 2025.
