Trump puts new Russia sanctions that he recently signed into law on hold, citing national interest

President Donald Trump on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, signed an executive order waiving sanctions, restrictions and duties in the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which he signed into law last month. He said the waiver is in the national interests of the United States and that the required unclassified report was sent to Congress. The bill, passed with strong bipartisan majorities though many Democrats opposed its tariff powers, targets Russia’s largest oil and gas buyers and allows tariffs on goods from countries such as China and India. Sen. Richard Blumenthal called the move a craven, cowardly action and said the waivers have nothing to do with national security and everything to do with sucking up to Vladimir Putin. Rep. Don Bacon said the president is prolonging the war, not ending it. The pause follows a Trump-Putin deal announced last week to release hundreds of thousands of tons of Russian diesel fuel onto the global market, as diesel prices have risen almost 70% since the Iran war began in February. The decision comes less than three weeks before the midterm elections. Sen. Darline Graham, who co-sponsored the bill named for her late brother and is running for his seat, has not criticized the waiver.