Rubio Frames Russia Sanctions Waiver as 60-Day Review — SkimNews
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- Rubio characterized Trump's Graham Act waiver as a 60-day pause for the President to analyze economic consequences, speaking at Joint Base Andrews en route to a six-day Uzbekistan and India tour.
- Trump on October 16, 2026 waived key provisions of the Graham Act that authorized punitive tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil, granting immediate relief to India.
- Rubio cited pressure on global energy supplies from the Iran war, Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia, and the Ukraine-Russia war as factors requiring study, noting India's voluntary diversification but continued reliance on Russian energy.
- Senator Darline Graham (R-South Carolina)—Trump's endorsed successor to her late brother Lindsey Graham—broke with the President, stating she doesn't trust Putin or Russia and would pressure Moscow to end the war.
- Senator Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) called the waiver "beyond irresponsible," noted the Senate passed the bill 86-11, and said Trump should resolve the Iran war rather than "do a solid for Putin."
- Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) said "Lindsey would be appalled," while Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) accused Trump of thumbing his nose at Congress and enabling Putin's aggression.
Why it matters: The Trump administration's waiver guts a sanctions law passed 86-11 in the Senate less than a month ago, with bipartisan architects—including the late Lindsey Graham's own sister and Republican colleagues—publicly breaking with the President. For India specifically, immediate tariff relief comes as he lands in New Delhi on Monday, signaling diplomatic leverage on energy ties that the bill's own co-sponsors say rewards Putin.
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