Several Republicans turn on Trump over diesel deal with Russia’s Putin

Notably, a number of Republicans turn on Trump over diesel agreement with Russia's Putin.

Key points

• Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused Trump of "doing a deal with the devil." The European Union.
• Michigan Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers remarked, "Not on importing from Russia, " when asked by a reporter whether he agrees with Trump's agreement with Putin.
• And global marketplaces with 300, 000 tons of diesel fuel "immediately, " followed by 1 million tons in November and 3 million further tons at an unspecified afterwards time.
• "It will be called the 'Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Act, '" Fitzpatrick remarked in a post on X.
• A bipartisan group of seven members on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, including four Republican senators, issued a statement on Oct.

WASHINGTON – A number of Republicans, including those in tight midterm races, are condemning President Donald Trump's agreement with Vladimir Putin to import Russian diesel into the United States, denouncing a move that lifts sanctions designed to isolate Russia economically from the rest of the world.

In practice, a bipartisan group of seven members on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, including four Republican senators, issued a statement on Oct. 11 arguing Trump's accord with Putin violates a law Congress passed in 2022 banning Russian energy imports against the backdrop of Russia's war in Ukraine.

President Trump's decision to allow Russian diesel imports to the U.S. Runs directly counter to that law, the senators say in the statement. It was signed by Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and John Curtis of Utah. The Administration has additionally failed to consult with Congress or submit any explanation to justify its decision as required by statute.

All four of the GOP senators have a history of pushing back on Trump. While Tillis is retiring at the end of the year, collins is seeking to keep her seat in one of the most competitive Senate races in the country.

"The United States should not provide Putin with a financial lifeline while Russia continues to kill Ukrainian civilians. The Administration must immediately reverse course, " the statement. It was led by the committee's ranking Democrat, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, concludes.

More: Trump notes US to import Russian diesel, reversing pressure on Moscow.

Trump's controversial accord, unveiled less than one month before the Nov. 3 midterm election, upends years of U.S. Efforts to cut off Russian energy from the global markets after Putin's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. It comes as high fuel rates caused by the war in Iran pose major liabilities for Trump and Republicans as they try to hold onto power in Congress. Diesel rates have soared especially high, creating hardships for American farmers in a number of states with close midterm races.

Trump remarked Russia will supply U.S. And global marketplaces with 300, 000 tons of diesel fuel "immediately, " followed by 1 million tons in November and 3 million further tons at an unspecified afterwards time. To enable the accord, the Trump administration unveiled that it temporarily lifted Russian oil sanctions through April 7, 2027.

"I do believe there's a legitimate case for saying the president's not following the law, " Tillis remarked in an Oct. 11 interview on NBC's "Meet the Press, " referencing the 2022 law Congress passed banning Russian oil imports. Michigan GOP nominee Mike Rogers opposes diesel accord with Putin.

Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused Trump of "doing a deal with the devil." The European Union. It has worked to isolate Russia, remarked the agreement will support finance Putin's war efforts. And on the midterm campaign trail, some Republican candidates in tight races say they additionally oppose the diesel agreement.

"You just don't want to give that guy an inch, " the former GOP congressman remarked.

Sen. John Kennedy, R-Louisiana. This person was stumping for Rogers in Highland, Michigan, remarked to journalists: "I backing the president's decision to import diesel. I don't backing his decision to import it from Putin."

"Vladimir Putin is a butcher. He's a butcher of his own individuals, and he's a butcher of the good residents of Ukraine. He has blood under his fingernails. He will never be our friend, " Kennedy continued. "You know what's going to bring diesel rates down? An end to the war in Iran."

More: Sen. Thom Tillis notes Trump's Russian diesel agreement may be illegal.

Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, who is in a tough midterm fight to hold on to his Pennsylvania congressional seat, remarked he aims to file bipartisan legislation that seeks to block any and all purchases of Russian oil.

"It will be called the 'Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Act, '" Fitzpatrick remarked in a post on X. "It will be forced to the Floor via discharge and it will pass overwhelmingly."

Trump's stunning reversal of U.S. Policy on dealings with Russia came just weeks after he signed a major Russia sanctions package ‒ legislation named after the late Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina ‒ that was meant to suffocate the Russian economy.

After thanking Putin for agreeing to the accord, Trump over the weekend called on leadership change in Ukraine, blaming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for driving up global energy rates and prolonging a war that Russia kicked off.

"I think it's time for Ukraine to get a new president, " Trump remarked to journalists on Oct. 10. "I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal."

Trump's remarks came after Zelenskyy sharply criticized the president for lifting Russian sanctions, calling it "an obvious weakness" that "plays into Russia's hands."

More: Trump calls for leadership change in Ukraine in rebuke to Zelenskyy.

Energy experts, meanwhile, have doubts that Trump's efforts to import Russian diesel will significantly lower diesel costs before the November election. The average cost for a gallon of diesel fuel has shot up to $6.23 nationally against the backdrop of the U.S. War with Iran.

Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for Gas Buddy, predicted that the agreement could result in a short-term reduction of 10 to 20 cents for a gallon of diesel. Nevertheless, he stated it will be "difficult to achieve" Trump's import goals.

"The psychological impact may reduce prices temporarily but it'll take more time to determine if Russia has such ability, " De Haan remarked in a post on X. Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison. SMS Facebook Twitter Email. Share your feedback to support improve our site! Share your feedback to support improve our site!

For now, several Republicans turn on Trump over diesel deal with Russias Putin remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.