Senator Tillis questions legality of Trump's Russian diesel deal

Republican Senator Thom Tillis said on October 11 that Donald Trump's Russian diesel supply agreement could violate the law. The US administration rejects that assessment.

In an NBC interview, Tillis said he saw grounds to argue that the president was not following the law. He considered the removal of restrictions inconsistent with the purpose of recently enacted sanctions legislation. This is the senator's assessment, rather than a court ruling.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News that the administration would use its existing legal authority and intended to implement the arrangement. He also argued that the supplies would help bring fuel prices down.

Republican Senator John Barrasso defended the decision on CBS, citing the president's efforts to lower costs for consumers, farmers and truckers.

Trump announced the arrangement with Russia on October 9. The United States subsequently lifted sanctions on Russian fuel temporarily. The dispute in Washington concerns executive authority and the consequences of that decision. The competing statements do not themselves establish the deal's legality or its actual effect on prices.