It’s a spy novel come to life.
Contrary to years of a certain kind of bootlicker gaslighting the public that “RussiaGate was a hoax!”, Russia Gate was very real.
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And it appears to be very real still.
In a Friday night news dump, Trump used a national-interest waiver to issue an executive order putting on hold a new Russian sanctions package named after now deceased Senator Lindsay Graham.
The legality of this latest gift to Russia is in question, as is his diesel deal. However, the legislation Trump signed a month ago explicitly grants the president the authority to suspend or waive the measures if he certifies that it’s in the national interest of the US to do so, which is what he did.
At the time the sanctions bill was passed a month ago, a large majority of House Democrats voted against the bill primarily because it gave Trump broad authority to waive the new sanctions and impose extensive tariffs. It’s almost like they could see where this was going, while Republicans continue to play duped fool, feigning ignorance of Trump’s pattern of behavior.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), who co-drafted the bipartisan legislation targeting Russian energy, said, “Trump confirms again that he stands on the side of a bloodthirsty thug & the enablers of Russia’s war machine & against the majority of Americans, their representatives in both houses of Congress, & our European allies.”
“These waivers have nothing to do with our national security, and everything to do with sucking up to Vladimir Putin,” Blumenthal added on X.
A few Republicans spoke up. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) wrote, “What part of enforcing a law passed 86-11 by the Senate does the President and his advisors not understand?” Tillis is retiring, so he has the freedom to speak his mind.
On the other hand, Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY), who has done so much on Epstein legislation, supported Trump’s move 100%.
Trump’s Pivot to Russia
It was widely covered in global media as an open pivot toward helping Russian President Vladimir Putin. But is it a pivot? Trump was already being battered in international press as a “traitor” and “treasonous” for his diesel deal.