Republican Senators Criticize Trumps Decision on Russian Oil Tariffs
Growing discontent among U.S. lawmakers over Trumps decision to ease tariffs on Russian oil amid ongoing Ukraine conflict.
Washington, October 18 (Daily Kiran) : Opposition is mounting in Congress against President Donald Trump’s recent decision to grant exemptions on new tariffs and sanctions for countries purchasing Russian oil. This move has drawn sharp criticism from several American lawmakers of Indian descent, alongside a senior Republican senator voicing concerns alongside Democratic leaders.
Democratic Congressman Ami Bera from California stated on X that Trump’s decision raises questions about whether the administration is abandoning Ukraine. He remarked, “My Republican colleagues pushed hard to pass the ‘Lindsey Graham Russia Sanctions Bill’ before our session ended. They should now openly declare that America is not siding with Russia.”
Virginia’s Democratic Congressman Suhas Subramanyam added, “Trump is doing exactly what we warned against. He is undermining Congress’s authority, abandoning Ukraine, and giving Putin a chance to evade accountability.”
Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn, a founding member of the Senate India Caucus, shared a New York Times report on Trump’s order, simply stating, “Lindsey would be shocked and saddened to see this.”
The legislation in question is named after the late Republican leader Lindsey Graham, who passed away in July.
Senate Democratic Leader Dick Durbin remarked, “President Trump has once again chosen to bow to the Kremlin. Lindsey Graham, John McCain, and Ronald Reagan would be disheartened by this.”
Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, pointed out that Trump has had the power to impose sanctions on Russia for years but lacks the will to do so. He suggested that Trump’s continued leniency towards Putin and this controversial exemption warrants a new award: the ‘Neville Chamberlain Appeasement Award.’
Democratic Congressman Jim McGovern from Massachusetts raised further questions, asking, “What has Putin promised Trump in return? Is he trying to influence U.S. elections again?” He emphasized that continuing imports from Russia will not resolve the issue but will complicate efforts to curb Russia’s aggressive policies.
Not all responses were critical. The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS), based in the U.S., thanked Trump, stating that temporary relief from oil import tariffs is a practical step amid rising diesel and energy prices due to conflicts in Ukraine and Iran. They noted, “Winter is approaching. Affordable energy and diplomatic solutions should remain a priority.”
On October 16, Trump signed an executive order that implemented tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, but the same order also temporarily exempted these tariffs, providing relief to countries like India, significant buyers of Russian crude oil.
