Trump exempts Russia from Graham Act sanctions days before crackdown

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday exempting Russia from sanctions under the Graham Act, days before the penalties were set to take effect Sunday, according to The New York Times and Associated Press. The law, named for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, targeted Russian officials, oligarchs, and banks to cut funding for Moscow's war on Ukraine. It also granted Trump tariff powers, including up to 100 percent levies on countries buying Russian oil and gas and up to 500 percent on Russian goods entering the U.S. Trump waived the sanctions, certifying to Congress that the move serves "the national interests of the United States." The waiver effectively halts the crackdown on Russia's war chest, marking a significant shift in U.S. policy toward Moscow.