Republican Michigan Senate hopeful Mike Rogers is breaking with President Trump over his decision to pause sanctions on Russia — but he’s not buying claims that the president is siding with Vladimir Putin over Ukraine.
Rogers said Sunday that he would have voted for the bipartisan sanctions legislation that Trump is now declining to enforce, arguing that the administration needs to do more to bring down soaring diesel prices hitting Michigan residents.
“I would have voted for the sanctions bill on Russia,” Rogers said during a CNN State of the Union appearance with Dana Bash.
“I don’t think we can give Putin an inch. And we will see. If the strategy works, hey, good on him, because that means we’re going to pay less for diesel here in the United States,” he added.
Other members of Trump’s party are also criticizing the president over his approach to Russia — including several retiring Senators who have broken with the president on other issues.
Trump announced Friday that he was waiving sanctions, restrictions and duties under the Graham Act, a bipartisan measure aimed at punishing Russia and countries that buy its oil and gas.
The legislation, named after the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, was overwhelmingly approved by the Senate this summer and authorized tariffs of up to 100% on major importers of Russian petroleum products.
Trump’s waiver cited the “national interests of the United States,” even as the decision drew criticism from lawmakers in both parties who accused the administration of giving Moscow a break.
“I am hereby waiving the application of such sanctions, restrictions, and duties provided for in the Graham Act,” Trump’s order said. “I have submitted to the Congress a certification that the issuance of such a waiver at this time is in the national interests of the United States.”
Rogers, who has generally aligned himself with Trump on policy, said he was skeptical that the move would deliver the lower fuel prices the administration wants.
Trump won Michigan in two of his three presidential runs — in 2016 and 2024.
“If the president has a better idea to get diesel prices down, I’d be for it,” Rogers said. “I’m just a little skeptical that this will work in the way that the administration wants it to work.”
“We are paying a pretty heavy price here in Michigan,” he added. “We have got to get these prices down, which is why I called to, hey, it’s time to just wrap up the Iran conflict.”
Rogers said his priority was “to get people putting a little more money in their wallets.”
The GOP nominee also pushed back on criticism that Trump was taking Russia’s side in its war against Ukraine, arguing that the president was trying to lower energy costs while confronting Iran over its nuclear ambitions.
“I think what he’s trying to do is get prices down and still deal with an Iranian regime that wants to get back to having a nuclear weapon,” Rogers said. “And I think that just adds complexity to the geopolitical stage.”
Rogers added that if elected to the Senate, he would push for a temporary ban on US diesel exports and a rebate for agricultural diesel used to ease the burden on American consumers and farmers.
He acknowledged that the conflict with Iran was contributing to elevated diesel prices but said other geopolitical factors were also driving costs higher.
Rogers’ criticism comes as other Republicans in Congress have publicly challenged Trump’s decision to waive the Russia sanctions.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) blasted the move as “beyond irresponsible,” pointing to the Senate’s 86-11 vote in favor of the legislation.
“What part of enforcing a law passed 86-11 by the Senate does the President and his advisors not understand?” Tillis, who is not running for reelection, wrote on X. “It’s unconscionable that this administration is capitulating to a Russian dictator who illegally invaded Ukraine and butchers innocent civilians every single day.”
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who lost his primary after Trump endorsed his opponent, also weighed in, writing on X, “Lindsey would be appalled.”
Retiring Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), another prominent GOP voice on US military involvement abroad, argued that Trump’s decision was “prolonging the war, not ending it.”
The waiver follows a deal Trump struck with Russia last week that permitted the country to sell diesel products to the US and the global market amid fuel shortages, drawing further criticism from lawmakers across the aisle.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also said he felt “betrayed” by Trump’s decision in an interview with Piers Morgan.
