Senator Thom Tillis, the Republican representative from North Carolina, announced on Sunday that President Donald Trump's diesel supply deal with Russia may be illegal and could endanger American lives. These remarks add to bipartisan criticism of the agreement announced on Friday.
Details of the Diesel Supply Deal
President Trump has announced that Russia has agreed to supply diesel for global markets, and his administration has temporarily lifted U.S. sanctions on Russian fuel that were imposed to deprive Moscow of revenue for the war in Ukraine. Senator Tillis stated, "I believe there is a valid legal case to say that the President is not following the law."
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Diesel prices, used in agriculture, home heating, and transportation, have approached historic highs, which may harm Republicans in next month's congressional elections. These elections could determine the narrow Republican majorities in Congress.
Criticism and Reactions
Analysts believe that Trump's agreement with Moscow is unlikely to lead to a sustainable reduction in fuel prices. Scott Bessent, U.S. Treasury Secretary, stated on a television program on Sunday that the Trump administration will continue to implement this agreement using existing legal authorities, adding that this deal will benefit the American people and lower prices.
Bessent remarked, "We will do this with all the legal authorities we have. So, anyone in Congress who says whether this is an old bill or the current Lindsey Graham bill that prevents us from doing this is mistaken."
Last month, President Trump signed comprehensive legislation for sanctions against Russia known as the "Lindsey O. Graham Russia and Iran Sanctions Act of 2026." This law was enacted in memory of the Republican from South Carolina who passed away in July. Graham, a staunch supporter of hardline policies against Russia, was a proponent of this law.
Senator Tillis is not the first Republican to criticize this agreement. Retired Representative Don Bacon from Nebraska also stated on social media platform X that "supporting Putin's war economy is morally wrong." Mike Pence, former Vice President under Trump, called his decision to lift sanctions on Russian oil a "betrayal" of Graham's legacy and urged Trump to "reverse" this decision.
Senator Tillis further stated, "The actions and statements of the President in the last 24 hours are exactly contrary to the intent of that bill." He added, "I guarantee that at the first opportunity, Vladimir Putin will do whatever he can to embarrass or undermine President Trump."
As polls indicate that Trump's ratings have declined, congressional Republicans are increasingly distancing themselves from the President. This distancing includes issues such as tensions in Iran and the trade war with Canada.
John Barrasso, the number two Republican senator, defended the diesel deal on CBS's "Face the Nation" on Sunday, stating that Trump is focused on reducing costs for consumers, ranchers, farmers, and truckers. He said, "The President is balancing and making tough decisions."
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