‘I want to thank President Putin’, Trump says after agreeing to lift sanctions on Russian diesel – US politics live
Prominent Republicans joined Democrats to condemn president for lifting sanctions on Russian diesel and administration’s plan to livestream execution of Fort Hood attacker
Republicans join Democrats to condemn Trump's oil deal with Putin and plan to livestream execution of Fort Hood gunman
A number of prominent Republicans joined Democrats on Friday to condemn Donald Trump for lifting sanctions on Russian diesel and the plan to livestream the execution of the former army major who carried out the Fort Hood attack in 2009.
“Trump started a stupid & illegal war in Iran that has driven up diesel prices. Now he wants to bankroll Putin’s illegal war against Ukraine by buying diesel from him,” senator Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, wrote in response to the news of Trump’s deal with Putin to lift sanctions and import Russian diesel. “One strategic disaster after the next.”
“70% of Americans support Ukraine,” congressman Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican, chimed in. “Propping up Putin’s war economy is morally wrong as he uses that money to bomb cities. The President’s policies towards Russia and Ukraine are failures. We need moral clarity not moral ambiguity.”
“This announcement is a disgrace,” senator Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, wrote. “You know how Trump could bring down gas and diesel prices? By ending his illegal war with Iran. Instead, he’s going to help fund Putin’s war machine.”
Warren also joined her Democratic colleagues, Jeanne Shaheen, of New Hampshire, andChuck Schumer, of New York, in a statement denouncing Trump’s deal with Putin.
“President Trump’s announcement that the United States will allow global purchases of Russian diesel for six months, is a total betrayal of Ukraine, our European allies and American national security,” the Democratic senators wrote. “After launching a war with Iran that has spiked gas and diesel prices for every American, the President is resorting to desperate ‘deals’ with a murderous dictator to attempt to clean up his own mess.
“Through the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, we gave the president significant authorities and leverage against China and Russia to bring Putin’s war to an end with a negotiated settlement,” congressman Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican posted on social media. “Unfortunately, while I understand the desire to bring down diesel prices, I am concerned the lifting of sanctions on Russian oil will only fund the Kremlin’s war machine—emboldening more violence and destruction, as we have seen in recent days.”
“Putin throws lifeline to try to save Trump in the midterms,” senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat, wrote. “In return, American dollars go to Russia and get put toward killing innocent Ukrainians. Trump/Russia right out in the open.”
Congressman Don Beyer, a Virginia Democrat, agreed, writing: “Infuriating—but this is what we warned anyone who would listen: Trump isn’t the slightest bit trustworthy when it comes to Russia. Giving him expanded tariff powers in hopes he would use them to help Ukraine was a mistake. Now he’s *lifting* sanctions on Russian fossil fuels.”
“The Fort Hood shooting was a horrific act of violence that took 13 innocent lives and devastated military families,” senator Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat, wrote. But there is a fundamental difference between carrying out a lawful sentence and turning an execution into a public spectacle.”
“Public executions are the hallmark of authoritarian regimes like Iran and North Korea, not the United States of America,” he added. “There is a reason that almost no countries in the world engage in this barbaric practice. Beyond the profound moral concerns, a public execution could hand terrorist organizations a propaganda victory, fuel radicalization, and put American service members, diplomats, and citizens overseas at greater risk.”
“Secretary Hegseth should seriously reconsider this decision,” congressman Tom Barrett, a Michigan Republican fighting to hold his seat in a tight race with progressive Democrat Will Lawrence, posted. “Nidal Hasan is an evil person ... That does not change the fact that our American values should strive to elevate human dignity. Making a public spectacle out of an already tragic situation is unnecessary and does not serve a public interest.”
“There is no need to livestream any execution, including this one,” senator Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican posted. “I would expect this from terrorists and dictators, but not here in America. It would give this individual, who deserves no further notoriety, the martyrdom he seeks. How we carry out justice matters just as much as the justice itself, so I urge the Pentagon to reverse this gruesome decision.
“I support bringing this terrorist to justice,” congressman Michael Baumgartner, a Washington Republican, wrote of the execution of the Fort Hood attacker. “I do not support the public livestream of the execution. This should be reconsidered.”
“Who still carries out public executions: The Iranian regime The North Korean regime The Taliban in Afghanistan Al-Shabaab in Somalia,” Nikki Haley, who unsuccessfully challenged Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination before supporting him, posted on social media. “That is not the company we want to keep or the country we want to be.”
James Talarico returns to campaign trail after illness
Texas Democrat James Talarico campaigned in person on Friday at the Austin City Limits musical festival, after missing more than a week due to illness.
Talarico’s campaign shared video of the candidate shaking hands and posing for photos with supporters at the festival, undercutting Republican conspiracy theories that the former state lawmaker, who is leading in multiple polls, was incapacitated.
At Republican rally in New York, Trump attacks Letitia James in crude terms, calling her 'a dog'
Ostensibly speaking in support of Republican candidates in New York state on Friday night, Donald Trump instead veered into airing his own grievances, viciously attacking Letitia James, the state’s attorney general who prosecuted him for business fraud.
Trump claimed that James “is being looked at for prosecutorial misconduct with respect to how she handled the case of your favorite president – me.”
He then invented a story about James, who successfully prosecuted him for fraud, falsely claiming that when prosecutors told her they could find no evidence of wrongdoing by Trump, she said “we don’t care – we’re going to get him anyway.”
Moments later he urged New York voters to reject both the state’s governor, Kathy Hochul, and James, in crude terms.
“New Yorkers should tell both Hochul and that disgusting, Letitia dog – she’s a dog - ‘You’re fired. Get the hell out of here. You’re fired.’ They’re corrupt, incompetent. The city and state are dirty, filthy places,” Trump said.
Donald Trump is now speaking at a rally in Syracuse, New York in support of Bruce Blakeman, the Republican nominee for governor who faces the Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul in the November election.
He began by boasting about his gambit of renaming Lake Ontario “Lake America”, and then boasted about “the beautiful White House that I reskinned and made beautiful again.”
A crowd of Trump supporters waiting for the president to appear at a rally in Syracuse, New York was just treated to the song, Rich Men North of Richmond, blasting out over arena loudspeakers.
The song, by Oliver Anthony, includes a pointed reference to the sway of Jeffrey Epstein, the late convicted sex offender Donald Trump socialized with for nearly two decades.
“I wish politicians would look out for miners/ And not just minors on an island somewhere,” Anthony’s voice sang, to no discernible reaction from the president’s fans.
Republicans join Democrats to condemn Trump's oil deal with Putin and plan to livestream execution of Fort Hood gunman
A number of prominent Republicans joined Democrats on Friday to condemn Donald Trump for lifting sanctions on Russian diesel and the plan to livestream the execution of the former army major who carried out the Fort Hood attack in 2009.
“Trump started a stupid & illegal war in Iran that has driven up diesel prices. Now he wants to bankroll Putin’s illegal war against Ukraine by buying diesel from him,” senator Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, wrote in response to the news of Trump’s deal with Putin to lift sanctions and import Russian diesel. “One strategic disaster after the next.”
“70% of Americans support Ukraine,” congressman Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican, chimed in. “Propping up Putin’s war economy is morally wrong as he uses that money to bomb cities. The President’s policies towards Russia and Ukraine are failures. We need moral clarity not moral ambiguity.”
“This announcement is a disgrace,” senator Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, wrote. “You know how Trump could bring down gas and diesel prices? By ending his illegal war with Iran. Instead, he’s going to help fund Putin’s war machine.”
Warren also joined her Democratic colleagues, Jeanne Shaheen, of New Hampshire, andChuck Schumer, of New York, in a statement denouncing Trump’s deal with Putin.
“President Trump’s announcement that the United States will allow global purchases of Russian diesel for six months, is a total betrayal of Ukraine, our European allies and American national security,” the Democratic senators wrote. “After launching a war with Iran that has spiked gas and diesel prices for every American, the President is resorting to desperate ‘deals’ with a murderous dictator to attempt to clean up his own mess.
“Through the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, we gave the president significant authorities and leverage against China and Russia to bring Putin’s war to an end with a negotiated settlement,” congressman Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican posted on social media. “Unfortunately, while I understand the desire to bring down diesel prices, I am concerned the lifting of sanctions on Russian oil will only fund the Kremlin’s war machine—emboldening more violence and destruction, as we have seen in recent days.”
“Putin throws lifeline to try to save Trump in the midterms,” senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat, wrote. “In return, American dollars go to Russia and get put toward killing innocent Ukrainians. Trump/Russia right out in the open.”
Congressman Don Beyer, a Virginia Democrat, agreed, writing: “Infuriating—but this is what we warned anyone who would listen: Trump isn’t the slightest bit trustworthy when it comes to Russia. Giving him expanded tariff powers in hopes he would use them to help Ukraine was a mistake. Now he’s *lifting* sanctions on Russian fossil fuels.”
“The Fort Hood shooting was a horrific act of violence that took 13 innocent lives and devastated military families,” senator Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat, wrote. But there is a fundamental difference between carrying out a lawful sentence and turning an execution into a public spectacle.”
“Public executions are the hallmark of authoritarian regimes like Iran and North Korea, not the United States of America,” he added. “There is a reason that almost no countries in the world engage in this barbaric practice. Beyond the profound moral concerns, a public execution could hand terrorist organizations a propaganda victory, fuel radicalization, and put American service members, diplomats, and citizens overseas at greater risk.”
“Secretary Hegseth should seriously reconsider this decision,” congressman Tom Barrett, a Michigan Republican fighting to hold his seat in a tight race with progressive Democrat Will Lawrence, posted. “Nidal Hasan is an evil person ... That does not change the fact that our American values should strive to elevate human dignity. Making a public spectacle out of an already tragic situation is unnecessary and does not serve a public interest.”
“There is no need to livestream any execution, including this one,” senator Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican posted. “I would expect this from terrorists and dictators, but not here in America. It would give this individual, who deserves no further notoriety, the martyrdom he seeks. How we carry out justice matters just as much as the justice itself, so I urge the Pentagon to reverse this gruesome decision.
“I support bringing this terrorist to justice,” congressman Michael Baumgartner, a Washington Republican, wrote of the execution of the Fort Hood attacker. “I do not support the public livestream of the execution. This should be reconsidered.”
“Who still carries out public executions: The Iranian regime The North Korean regime The Taliban in Afghanistan Al-Shabaab in Somalia,” Nikki Haley, who unsuccessfully challenged Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination before supporting him, posted on social media. “That is not the company we want to keep or the country we want to be.”
Trump suggests final decision has not been made on whether execution of Fort Hood gunman will be streamed live
On his way to a rally for Republicans in upstate New York on Friday, Donald Trump was asked about the controversy over his defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, saying that the execution of the gunman who killed 13 people at Fort Hood in Texas in 2009 would be livestreamed.
Hours after his vice-president, JD Vance, said that he did not know if the killing of Nidal Hasan, the former army psychiatrist, would be streamed live, Trump was asked by a reporter: “Do you want the execution of the Fort Hood shooter to be livestreamed? And are you worried that the video would be used as propaganda?”
“Well, they’re making a determination about that,” Trump said. “But he will be, uh, killed. He will be, through firing squad. He killed 13, 14 people,” the president said.
“He’s totally nuts, so I really don’t care how he goes, as long as he goes,” Trump continued. “And I think that the death penalty is a very worthy way of going for him.”
The president then ignored a follow-up question about whether he would watch the execution.
Several Republican lawmakers joined Democrats and human rights advocates in condemning Hegseth’s idea that the execution should be streamed live.
Minutes later, Trump leaned in to listen to a follow-up question from a Brazilian correspondent, Raquel Krähenbühl, who asked, in slightly imperfect English: “Did you personally authorize or approve the execution, the livestream execution of the Fort Hood-”
“Did I approve?” Trump cut in to ask.
“Did you approve?” the reporter repeated.
“Absolutely,” Trump said, although it was not entirely clear if he either heard or was responding to the part of the question about the execution being streamed live.
As Trump walked away, Krähenbühl sought to clarify, shouting “the live-streaming?” but the president did not reply audibly.
The correspondent for Brazil’s TV Globo later shared video of her exchange with Trump on social media, in which he did appear to nod in response to her follow-up question about the live stream.
'I want to thank President Putin', Trump says, after agreeing to lift sanctions on Russian diesel ahead of midterms
As he left the White House on Friday for a rally in New York state, flanked by the former boxer Mike Tyson, Donald Trump extended his thanks to Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, for agreeing to sell diesel fuel to the US in return for the lifting of US sanctions on fuel exports from Russia, even as Russia’s deadly war on Ukraine continues.
When a reporter asked Trump to comment on the response from Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said “that you are weak”, Trump ignored the question and turned to the rest op the press corps to boast about the deal.
“I think you heard about the oil deal with Russia. That is a big deal,” Trump said.
“That is massive amounts of oil coming into our country. And I want to thank President Putin, to be honest with you. We have massive amounts of oil coming into our country, and it’s diesel which is what we want, so: thank you,” the president said.
“Zelenskyy said you are weak because of it,” the reporter told Trump. “He just criticized you.”
“Who said that?” Trump leaned in and asked.
“Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, just said you are weak because of the deal you made with Putin,” the journalist replied.
Trump then stepped away and called on another journalist instead of responding.
White House pool video of Donald Trump thanking Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, on Friday.
Minutes later, another reporter returned to the subject, telling Trump: “President Zelenskyy said the diesel deal is a weak move by a strong partner that will only prolong the war.”
When that reporter asked, “Is this emboldening-” Trump cut in to ask: “By a strong what?”
“By a strong partner that will only prolong the war,” the reporter said.
“Well, we are a strong partner,” Trump said.
“Will this embolden Putin?” the reporter asked.
“Well, no; we need oil for the world and this is diesel which is what we need. So, we’re very happy to get it,” Trump said. “We’re very happy to get it. Look, we need it. Oil prices are already dropping like a rock. So, we’re very happy to get it.”
Zelenskyy denounces Trump's decision to lift diesel sanctions on Russia as 'weak'
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, denounced Donald Trump’s decision to suspend sanctions on Russia, to let the US buy diesel fuel from the nation that kills Ukrainian civilians daily, in an interview with Axios on Friday.
Zelenskyy, who had traveled to Washington to plead with US lawmakers to pass tougher sanctions on Russia last month, reportedly told Axios on Friday that Trump’s decision, was “not fair and not honest” and “looks like a happy birthday present for Putin”.
“It looks absolutely terrible,” he added.
Ukraine’s president also criticized Trump’s decision in a statement on social media, in which he wrote:
Peace never comes through weakness. Today, representatives of the U.S. Congress were in Kyiv – a bipartisan delegation – and I am grateful to them for visiting Ukraine at such a difficult time. They asked: what is needed to end the war? The answer must be strong. There must be sanctions under the Lindsey Graham bill, there must be support for Ukraine in protecting lives, and there must be pressure on Russia for its war. And today, there was a conversation between the leaders of America and Russia. A conversation that leads to something different. …
Any easing of sanctions against Russia without a clear and lasting de-escalation agreement with Russia is an obvious weakness. It plays into Russia’s hands – allowing it to kill more, wage war for longer, have even less respect for America, and inflict even greater losses and damage on the world. …
Gifts to Putin will not bring peace or any benefit to the civilized world. Russia will “repay” the diesel with further terror and perfidy. Allowing Russia to sell petroleum products is an investment in a war that must be ended, not prolonged. What is needed is real de-escalation with Russia on a reciprocal basis. We count on America’s fair support for our defense of life, for our defense of people in Ukraine – and on the United States having a correspondingly strong conversation with Russia. A strong one, not a weak one.
As Republican senators met Zelenskyy to discuss tougher sanctions on Russia, Trump struck deal with Putin to buy diesel
Donald Trump’s surprise announcement on Friday, that the US will buy diesel from Russia, and is lifting sanctions for six months to enable Russia to export diesel freely, came as two Republican senators, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota and Roger Wicker of Mississippi, were in Kyiv meeting with Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to discuss implementing the tough new Russia sanctions law signed by Trump just three weeks ago.
“We can only protect ourselves from this terror by working together, and we discussed how the United States can help save lives,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media, with video of the meeting also attended by two Republican congressmen, Dan Crenshaw and Marc Veasey, both of Texas.
“Of course, we expect the Lindsey Graham Act to be implemented,” Zelenskyy added. “This is a matter of political will, and it is now important to show leadership and fully cut off the financial flows sustaining Russia’s war machine.”
Trump says he struck a deal with Putin for Russia to sell diesel to US, weeks after signing Russia sanctions law
Just weeks after signing a new law that gave him the authority to impose tariffs on countries that buy fuel from Russia despite US sanctions, Donald Trump announced on Friday that the US will now be buying fuel from Russia.
Writing on social media, Trump said that he stuck a deal with Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, “wherein it was agreed that Russia will immediately supply over 300,000 Tons of Diesel Fuel to the American and Global Marketplace,” to be followed by another 4.5m tons of diesel fuel exports.
A short time later, the US treasury’s office of foreign assets control announced that, at Trump’s direction, it had lifted sanctions on the sale of Russian diesel to the global market, “including importation into the United States for six months.
Trump claimed that the deal, which suspends an effort to punish Russia for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, would soon drive down the cost of fuel in the US, which has been a concern to voters casting ballots in the midterm elections.
The Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, signed into law on 18 September, authorized the president to impose tariffs on countries “facilitating Russian oil sanctions evasion”, but also gave him broad authority to waive any sanctions or tariffs. Those provisions had led some Democrats to oppose the legislation, arguing that it delegated too much authority to Trump.
Trump confirms rightwing commentator Katie Zacharia as new White House press secretary
Writing on social media, Donald Trump confirmed on Friday that he has appointed a rightwing commentator, Katie Zacharia, as the new White House press secretary.
Trump noted that Zacharia, a current spokesperson for his Truth Social platform is a frequent commentator on rightwing outlets, including Fox News and Newsmax.
“She has an unblemished record of support, and has been a loyal and brilliant supporter, right from the beginning. She is, likewise, a devoted fan and member of MAGA!”
Vice-President JD Vance said he didn’t know if the decision to livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan, that defense secretary Pete Hegseth announced would take place on 3 December in front of a firing squad,“is actually going to happen”. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Vance was asked about how he squares his Christian faith with the Pentagon’s decision to broadcast the execution – for the first time in US history. He went on to say that if the decision is made to livestream he was “not going to be watching it”.
This comes as more Republicans have criticized the Pentagon’s plan to livestream Hasan’s execution – the US army psychiatrist who was sentenced to death after he murdered 13 people at the Ford Hood army base in Texas in 2009. Senator John Curtis, a Republican from Utah, said “a civilization erodes when it cultivates an appetite for executions as a form of entertainment”. Meanwhile, Rob Bresnahan – a GOP congressman who is facing a competitive re-election battle for his central Pennsylvania district – said the victims and their families’ pain “deserves respect, not a public show”.
Katie Zacharia, a former spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, and current communications adviser for the Trump Media and Technology Group, has been offered the position of White House press secretary, a White House official confirms to the Guardian. Zacharia would replace Karoline Leavitt, who left the role at the end of August after she gave birth to her second child. It’s not immediately clear whether Zacharia – who frequently appears on conservative news and talkshows – has accepted the job. More here
Also today, the Trump administration today announced a set of new sanctions on the international criminal court (ICC), which investigates and prosecutes individuals accused of atrocities and other crimes against humanity. “America never joined the court. We don’t need that court, and we don’t want it,” said secretary of state Marco Rubio in a video on Friday. The new sanctions target the court as an institution, blocking any ICC assets in the US and giving US companies and individuals six months to wind down any business with the court. More here
Meanwhile,Donald Trump has set up a committee to investigate Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook as part of his latest efforts to fire her. The “committee of inquiry” will investigate “false statements in connection with one or more mortgage instruments” that the White House says Cook made. This latest move by Trump comes just months after the supreme court ruled that Cook, a Joe Biden appointee, was entitled to remain as Fed governor as she fights Trump’s unproved allegations against her.
Circling back to another big story today – Katie Zacharia being tapped to be the new White House press secretary.
As I noted earlier, it’s not clear whether Zacharia – a frequent guest on conservative news and talkshows as well as a communications adviser for the Trump Media and Technology group – has accepted the job.
Zacharia, a California native, graduated in 2011 from Pepperdine University’s law school. She is married to film producer Tyler Zacharia.
Before her brief stint as a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, Zacharia worked as general counsel at Fix California, a conservative non-profit focused on “election integrity” in the Golden state. The organization is headed up by Trump ally and diplomat Ric Grenell.
The Guardian has reached out to Zacharia for comment.
Vance says he's doesn't know if execution live stream 'is actually going to happen'
Vice-President JD Vance said he didn’t know if the decision to livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan, that defense secretary Pete Hegseth announced would take place on 3 December in front of a firing squad, “is actually going to happen”.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Vance was asked about how he squares his Christian faith with the Pentagon’s decision to broadcast the execution – for the first time in history.
“First of all, I’ve seen these announcements. I don’t know that that’s actually going to happen,” Vance said. “What I try to remind people is, look, this is a guy who committed, in my view, the worst terrorist attack on American soil outside of 9/11 … So whatever the controversy is about the method of the execution, I hope that people don’t forget that this is a guy who brutally murdered a lot of innocent people.”
However, Vance said that if the decision is made to livestream Hasan’s execution, he was “not going to be watching it”.