Washington, October 13 (Daily Kiran) : President Donald Trump has openly criticized Republican senators who oppose his decision to import diesel from Russia. He labeled these leaders as “not serious” during a press briefing at the White House. Trump suggested that the U.S. might impose a cap or restrictions on diesel if necessary.
His remarks came shortly after he signed a law allowing tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil, effective October 18. Trump defended his agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating, “I think these are Republicans who are really not serious. We produce a lot of oil. We could impose a ban on oil, but doing so would greatly affect other countries.”
He also mentioned that the U.S. could place limits on diesel to reserve it solely for American use, warning that this too would have significant repercussions. Trump emphasized that this deal is not just for the U.S. but has global implications, especially if it benefits American farmers and ranchers. However, he did not clarify how these potential diesel limits would be enforced or whether they would apply to exports or domestic supply.
Among the Republican leaders criticizing Trump are Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, and John Curtis of Utah. They joined Democratic Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Ron Wyden, and Richard Blumenthal in a statement demanding the administration retract its decision.
Murkowski referred to the restriction law Trump signed three weeks ago, arguing, “The president should use these powers, not allow Russia to generate revenue from diesel exports while continuing the war in Ukraine.” Collins added, “I was a co-sponsor of the Russian sanctions law that the president recently signed, but now he is not adhering to it.”
Public Law 119-111, linked to the late Senator Lindsey Graham, grants the president the authority to impose additional tariffs of up to 100% on goods from countries buying Russian crude oil and related energy products. However, exemptions can be made for national interests.
The first tariff under this law could take effect on October 18, but the administration has not publicly confirmed whether India will be included in this list. Since 2022, India has been one of the largest buyers of Russian crude oil. Trump had previously imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian products related to these purchases in August 2025.
India has consistently claimed that it is being held to different standards. In August, the Foreign Ministry stated, “The U.S. imports uranium hexafluoride from Russia for its nuclear industry, along with palladium for its electric vehicle sector, as well as fertilizers and chemicals.”
Last week, Trump announced that Russia would supply approximately 300,000 tons of diesel immediately, with total supplies expected to reach around 5 million tons. His administration is attempting to lower fuel prices, which have surged since the onset of the Iran conflict in February.
On Friday, the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued General License 135, permitting transactions related to Russian-origin diesel. Notably, the U.S. Congress imposed a ban on energy imports from Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
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