President Donald Trump is pressing ahead with a plan to buy Russian diesel even as Republicans voice growing objections, Semafor reported on Thursday — but there are also signs of a split as some MAGA lawmakers defend him.
A White House official said Trump’s focus is helping Americans pay less and that he hasn’t “shifted his stance.” The administration said earlier this month that Russia would quickly ship over 300,000 tons of diesel to relieve fuel prices that have hurt Republican candidates, though timing remains unclear.
Semafor says the move joins two other unpopular economic bets among swing-state Republicans: his push for more beef imports, which has infuriated farmers and ranchers, and his trade fight with Canada, which hits northern battleground states hard.
Rep. Ashley Hinson of Iowa, running for Senate, said in a debate she would favor other approaches, such as suspending the gas tax or expanding biofuels. “I don’t think we need to be making a deal with Russia to do it,” she said.
Former Sen. John Sununu of New Hampshire, running to reclaim his seat, argued the deal won’t help prices and “provides an advantage to Russia,” and Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers also broke with the president. Seven Republicans joined bipartisan groups of senators objecting, and a House Republican says he’ll introduce a bill to stop it.
But not every Republican is opposed. Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a close Trump ally, defended the move as putting Americans first and said existing sanctions would limit any benefit to Russia.
Privately, some administration officials concede that the Iran war is driving the price spike, and one hopes the deal fits into a wider diplomatic plan. Asked about GOP skeptics, Trump brushed them off as “Republicans that can’t really be serious.”
A few Republicans, including Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker (R-MS), think the purchases won’t happen at all, citing a 2022 ban on Russian energy imports and European sanctions. Bloomberg economist Chris Kennedy, meanwhile, said investors expect little near-term effect regardless.
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