Sen. Thom Tillis questions legality of Trump's fuel deal with Russia

Senator Thom Tillis, R-N.C., stated during an interview on NBC News’ "Meet the Press" that President Donald Trump’s decision to ease sanctions on Russia to allow the release of diesel fuel to the global market may violate U.S. law. Tillis remarked, "I do believe there’s a legitimate case for saying the president’s not following the law." Trump announced on a Friday post on Truth Social that Russia would supply hundreds of thousands of tons of diesel fuel to the global market, with over 1 million additional tons expected soon. This announcement has faced criticism from Ukraine and opponents of the Trump administration. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Congress passed a bill in 2022 to ban Russian oil imports, and no changes have been made to this law in light of the president's announcement. When asked if he believes Trump is breaking the law, Tillis responded, "I believe that he may be," emphasizing that Russia is the aggressor in the conflict. The White House did not respond to requests for comment regarding Tillis's statements. Tillis also indicated that if Trump seeks support for military funding, he needs to address the concerns regarding the Russia deal. He expressed that the deal could endanger American lives, citing the Kremlin's connections with mercenaries and Iran. Additionally, Tillis has been critical of the Trump administration in the past and has expressed regret over his vote for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. He also condemned the Pentagon's plan to livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan, stating it could be exploited by terrorist groups.