Trump orders not to apply sanctions against Russians under new law
- Trump waives sanctions against Russian leadership and banks, citing executive privilege and ignoring Congress's unanimous intent.
- The law, passed with veto-proof majorities, was supposed to be the 'piercing' of the Kremlin's armor; Trump just handed back the tin foil.
- Waiver only covers new sanctions—old grudges remain, so don't expect a sudden thaw in the 'Twitter Cold War.'
- Kremlin likely popping champagne, while hawks on Capitol Hill choke on their own spit.
- No word yet on whether this counts as a 'perfect' phone call with Putin, but the subtext writes itself.
Brief Summary
In a move that will shock absolutely no one with a working memory, President Trump has signed an executive order declaring that the brand-new, congressionally-mandated sanctions on Russian big wigs are basically a suggestion. The order, published with all the fanfare of a parking ticket, says 'I hereby waive'—which is Washington-speak for 'I'm the boss, and Moscow can keep its oligarchs' yachts.' The law in question was supposed to slap 500% tariffs on Russian goods and freeze the assets of state banks. Now it's just a decorative piece of legislation, like a 'Do Not Enter' sign in a demolition zone.
Why This Matters
For the average reader, this isn't just foreign policy navel-gazing—it's your wallet and your safety net. Those 500% tariffs were meant to hit Russian energy exports, which would've made you slightly poorer at the pump but also starved Putin's war machine. Instead, Trump's waiver keeps the Kremlin cozy, meaning you can expect higher heating bills this winter and a Russia that's still emboldened to meddle in elections, cyber-attacks, and your social media feed. This is the domestic consequences of a foreign policy 'Let It Be' session.