Trump Signs Order Waiving New Russia Sanctions, Sparking Bipartisan Backlash

Facts via ABC News / Washington Post · 2026-10-17

The factsPresident Trump waived sweeping new sanctions and tariffs on Russia under the Graham Act just before they were set to take effect, drawing criticism from lawmakers and Ukraine's president.

Left-leaning

President Trump signed an order waiving sweeping new sanctions and tariffs on Russia under the Graham Act, blocking the penalties just before they were set to take effect. The move drew swift criticism from lawmakers in both parties, as well as from Ukraine's president, who have pushed for tougher economic pressure on Moscow amid its ongoing war. The Graham Act, passed with broad support, was designed to tighten the financial squeeze on the Kremlin, and its last-minute suspension has raised questions among members of Congress about the administration's commitment to that bipartisan strategy. Critics say waiving the measures undercuts a unified legislative effort to hold Russia accountable, while allies of Ukraine warn the delay could ease pressure on Moscow at a critical moment in the conflict. The White House has not detailed the rationale behind the waiver. Lawmakers from both parties are now weighing their next steps, with some signaling they may seek ways to reinstate or enforce the sanctions despite the president's action, underscoring the depth of concern on Capitol Hill over the decision.

Notice how 'bipartisan support' and 'unified legislative effort' are repeated to cast the waiver as a rupture from consensus rather than a presidential prerogative. The piece centers lawmakers' and Ukraine's alarm, nudging readers toward suspicion of Trump's motives. Read more about this technique →

Right-leaning

President Trump moved Friday to waive a new round of sweeping sanctions and tariffs on Russia just before they were set to kick in under the Graham Act, a decision his administration frames as preserving flexibility to pursue a negotiated end to the Ukraine war rather than locking in automatic economic warfare. The pause drew swift criticism from some lawmakers in both parties and from Ukraine's president, who argue the penalties were meant to pressure Moscow.

Supporters of the president's approach note that rigid, congressionally mandated sanctions can tie the hands of any administration trying to broker peace, and that waiving them does not mean abandoning leverage altogether. Trump has long argued that ending the war through diplomacy, rather than escalating economic measures that also strain American businesses and allies, serves U.S. interests. Critics, including members of Congress who pushed the Graham Act, say the delay undercuts a hard-won bipartisan deterrent just as it was set to bite. The White House has not detailed how long the waiver will last or what conditions might trigger reinstating the sanctions.

The piece leans on words like "flexibility" and "pursue a negotiated end" to recast a sanctions waiver as prudent diplomacy rather than a concession to Moscow. By labeling critics simply as people who "pushed the Graham Act," it subtly minimizes the breadth of bipartisan alarm. Read more about this technique →

Right version frames waiver as diplomatic flexibility; left emphasizes bipartisan backlash and undercut accountability.

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