[US Media: Trump Pressures Graham: Sanctions Must Grant President the Power to Choose Targets]

On June 6, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump does not want to impose severe sanctions on Russia and is secretly pressuring Senator Graham.

The report stated that more than 80 US senators support a Russia sanctions bill, which includes imposing sanctions on key Russian officials and industries, as well as levying a 500% tariff on countries trading with Russia. However, US President Trump is concerned that the passage of the bill will harm US-Russia relations and is secretly pressuring the bill's sponsor, Senator Lindsey Graham, to modify it. He wants to change the wording from "must" implement sanctions to "can," granting the president the power to choose targets for sanctions.

Congressional staff believe that removing the mandatory nature of the sanctions would make the bill "ineffective," as Trump already has the authority to decide whether to impose sanctions on his own.

Richard Blumenthal, co-sponsor of the bill and Democratic senator, confirmed private negotiations with the White House but declined to comment. A White House spokesperson emphasized the president's diplomatic powers, stating that the sanctions plan needs flexibility to advance established foreign policies.

Senator Graham previously publicly expressed plans to amend the bill, proposing exemptions for countries providing military or economic aid to Ukraine (such as European allies) to avoid being affected by the 500% tariff, but he has not yet publicly accepted key modifications pushed by the Trump administration in private.

In recent weeks, several US politicians have expressed support for tough sanctions on Russia, including House Speaker Mike Johnson. Kit Kellogg, the White House National Security Council's special representative for Ukraine, said in May that the US is ready with a new round of Russia sanctions measures, awaiting approval from Congress and the White House.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1834231817126976/

Disclaimer: This article solely represents the author's personal views.