President Donald Trump’s administration announced an oil market move on Thursday that had some analysts up in arms.
The Treasury Department announced that it had temporarily rescinded sanctions on Russian oil already at sea. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the move was in response to skyrocketing energy prices resulting from the war in Iran, but several analysts noted that Russia benefited from the move in myriad ways.
The U.S. first placed sanctions on Russian oil to combat the country’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which made it more difficult for Russia to afford to continue its war. Now, the Trump administration is allowing Russia to offload some of its oil at a time when the price per barrel is hovering around $95, representing a more than 48% increase since late February.
Political analysts and observers reacted to the news on social media.
“Pathetic. Russia is helping Iran target Americans,” Adam Cochran, a policy consultant, posted on X. “If there is one country we shouldn’t be easing sanctions on it’s Russia. The president cares more about the stock market, than the lives of American soldiers!”
“So let me get this straight, Trump’s logic is … The enemy of my friend (Ukraine) and friend of my enemy (Iran) is now my friend?” Bree Fram, a retired Department of Defense colonel, posted on X. “But that would imply that Trump uses logic, even if twisted.”
“The big winner of Trump’s Iran War? Russia,” Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA) posted on X.
“Russian Oil Is Great Again,” political commentator Thomas P. Saeger posted on X.
“The American Empire no longer has the capacity to maintain its myriad foreign policy crusades at the same time,” Josian Lippincott, a Ph.D. student at the Van Andel School of Statesmanship at Hillsdale College, posted on X.
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