Russia and Putin · First term · № 34
Signed Russia sanctions law while calling it 'seriously flawed' and partly unconstitutional
“Still, the bill remains seriously flawed, particularly because it encroaches on the executive branch's authority to negotiate. Congress could not even negotiate a health care bill after 7 years of talking. By limiting the executive's flexibility, this bill makes it harder for the United States to strike good deals for the American people and will drive China, Russia, and North Korea much closer together.”
- Said
- , White House signing statement
- Subject
- Russia sanctions law
- Type
- Sanctions and pressure
- Topic
- Ukraine & Russia
- Era
- First term
What happened
The Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act passed the House 419-3 and cleared the Senate 98-2. It imposed new sanctions on Russia and gave Congress the power to review and block any easing of them; CNN reported that White House officials had lobbied to weaken that review provision. Trump signed the bill on August 2, 2017, and issued two statements. One called the bill 'seriously flawed'; the other called it 'significantly flawed' and said it contained 'clearly unconstitutional provisions', including sections on recognition of territorial changes that he said displaced presidential authority, while adding that he shared their policy views. He said he was signing 'for the sake of national unity' and that he favored making clear the United States would not tolerate interference in its democratic process. The next day he wrote that relations with Russia were at 'an all-time & very dangerous low' and 'You can thank Congress'.
Sources
- Statement on Signing the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act
- Statement on Signing the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act
- Trump signs bill approving new sanctions against Russia
- US names Russian oligarchs in 'Putin list' but imposes no new sanctions
- Tweets of August 3, 2017