Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) backed President Donald Trump’s diesel deal with Russia on Sunday, saying it validated his 2022 warning that sanctions on Moscow would raise costs for Americans.
Massie Says Trump Came Around
“In 2022 I voted against Russia sanctions, pointing out that U.S. citizens would suffer from higher prices. Glad to see Trump came around to that reality this week,” Massie wrote on X. He added, “We should lift sanctions on all petroleum products, and on raw metals like copper and aluminum.”
Trump said Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel immediately to U.S. and global markets, followed by 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons afterward. Reuters reported that the Treasury Department temporarily waived sanctions to allow Russian diesel to reach global markets as Trump sought relief from high diesel prices ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms.
Massie’s support marks a rare point of agreement after repeated clashes with Trump. The Kentucky Republican recently joked that Americans “need gold to buy diesel now” as diesel prices surged above $6 a gallon.
Bipartisan Senators Challenge Deal’s Legality
The deal, however, faces bipartisan blowback. Seven senators — Republicans Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and John Curtis (R-Utah), and Democrats Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) — said Congress “explicitly banned Russian energy imports in 2022” to stop U.S. dollars from financing Putin’s war in Ukraine. They said the administration failed to consult Congress or provide an explanation required by law.
Tillis sharpened that criticism Sunday on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.” “I do believe there’s a legitimate case for saying the president’s not following the law,” he told Kristen Welker. Tillis also said Trump should focus on the Iran conflict, which has strained global energy supplies.
White House Defends Sanctions Relief Authority
The 2022 Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act bans imports of Russian energy products covered by Chapter 27 of the U.S. tariff schedule. The law allows the president to terminate the prohibition only after submitting a certification to Congress, consulting with relevant congressional committees and observing a 90-day waiting period, subject to congressional disapproval.
The administration says it is acting legally. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday, “We’re going to do it with all the legal authorities we have.”
Photo courtesy: Philip Yabut / Shutterstock
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