# Russia Sanctions Bill Splits Both Parties on Trump's Tariff Power

- URL: https://twotakes.us/stories/russia-sanctions-bill-splits-both-parties-on-trumps-tariff-power
- Published: 2026-09-20T07:08:36.504290+00:00
- Topics: russia-sanctions, ukraine-war, congress, tariffs, foreign-policy

## What the left says
- Democratic leaders, including Hakeem Jeffries, opposed the bill primarily because it grants Trump sweeping new tariff authority that lacks oversight or a clear expiration, fearing he could wield it against nations of his choosing under vague pretexts.
- Rep. Don Beyer warned the legislation contains a loophole broad enough to let the president label virtually any country a Russia-sanctions evader and hit it with tariffs up to 100% without guardrails.
- Despite leadership's objections, 58 rank-and-file Democrats crossed over to support the bill, reflecting a genuine desire to punish Russia's war machine and stand with Ukraine even while distrusting how Trump might use the new powers.
- The bill's supporters frame it as essential to cutting off the revenue, particularly from oil and gas sales to China and India, that funds Russia's continued assault on Ukrainian civilians.

## What the right says
- Isolationist-leaning Republicans, including Reps. Massie, Roy, Davidson and Norman, opposed the bill out of broader resistance to deeper U.S. entanglement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, arguing against expansive foreign sanctions regimes generally.
- Mainstream Republicans, led by Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, pushed hard for bipartisan buy-in and only advanced the bill once the White House signaled support, seeing it as a tool to pressure Putin toward peace.
- Supporters like Rep. Michael McCaul frame the bill as a moral necessity, arguing America must use every available tool to cripple Russia's war machine and pursue a just end to the war.
- Some on the right label the bill a 'neocon' priority, expressing skepticism toward the broader foreign policy establishment's push for continued sanctions and involvement despite the measure's Republican-led origins.

## Common ground
- The bill passed the House 262-159 and now heads to Trump's desk for signature.
- The legislation is named the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, honoring the late senator who spent over a year negotiating it.
- It authorizes tariffs of up to 100% on the top five importers of Russian oil and gas, potentially including China and India, along with sanctions on Russian officials, banks, and the shadow fleet of tankers.
- The vote crossed party lines in both directions, with 58 Democrats voting yes and seven Republicans voting no, reflecting genuine internal divisions rather than a clean partisan split.

## Sources
- [ABC News](https://abcnews.com/Politics/house-passes-russia-iran-sanctions-bill-championed-sen/story?id=136510615) (Lean Left)
- [Axios](https://www.axios.com/2026/09/16/house-russia-sanctions-bill-graham) (Lean Left)
- [CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/house-votes-russia-sanctions-bill/) (Lean Left)
- [CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/video/house-passes-lindsey-graham-russia-sanctions-bill/) (Lean Left)
- [Daily Caller](https://dailycaller.com/2026/09/16/house-passes-russia-sanctions-bill-lindsey-graham) (Right)
- [NBC News](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/house-passes-russia-sanctions-bill-named-lindsey-graham-sending-trump-rcna598124) (Lean Left)
- [NPR](https://www.npr.org/2026/09/16/nx-s1-5971289/russia-sanctions-house-vote-lindsey-graham) (Lean Left)
- [PBS NewsHour](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-house-considers-bills-on-russia-sanctions-ai-data-center-costs) (Lean Left)
- [RedState](https://redstate.com/sister-toldjah/2026/09/16/russia-sanctions-bill-sponsored-by-the-late-lindsey-graham-passes-the-house-heads-to-trump-next-n2207020) (Unknown)
- [The Hill](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/6093976-house-russia-sanctions-bill-passes-trump/) (Center)
- [Townhall](https://townhall.com/news/scott-mcclallen/2026/09/16/house-passes-russia-sanctions-bill-named-for-lindsey-graham-sends-to-trump-n2683111) (Right)

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