This is exceptional timing. President Trump continues to become a de facto ally of Russia in its war against Ukraine*, and is willing to reverse a bill that he bragged about while addressing the United Nations less than a month ago:
President Trump is halting implementation of most of the sanctions that were to be imposed on Russia under a bipartisan bill he signed last month.
The announcement came in an executive order on Friday night, and was part of a broader pivot by Trump toward courting Moscow as he seeks to end the war in Ukraine and keep energy prices under control ahead of the midterm elections.
The law, which was championed by and named for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.), targeted certain Russian officials and institutions and would have allowed for tariffs of up to 100% on countries that import Russian oil.
In the executive order, Trump stated that waiving implementation of most aspects of the law was “in the national interests of the United States.”
The president did not elaborate on how the law was in the national interest of the United States, because it is not in the interest of the United States.
Guess how Trump is spending his Wednesday?
President Donald Trump is returning to South Carolina next week to rally support for Sen. Darline Graham and other Republicans ahead of the midterms.
The rally will be Wednesday in Clemson. The scheduled start time is 7 p.m., the Republican National Committee announced Thursday evening.
What exactly is Senator Graham supposed to say about the president at that event? “He’s betraying the legacy of my beloved late brother with the very best of intentions”?
*Some of us assessed this flip a long time ago.