Trump calls ban on Russian fuel imports 'pretty bad' and vows to look into it
Photo: US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump called a law banning imports of Russian fuel into the United States "pretty bad." He said he would look into the matter after speaking with a reporter at the White House.
During an exchange with reporters, one of them drew Trump's attention to a tanker carrying Russian diesel fuel that was crossing the Atlantic Ocean and was apparently heading to the United States.
The reporter reminded Trump that in 2022, Congress passed a law prohibiting the unloading of such fuel on US territory. The legislation was signed by then-President Joe Biden.
In response, Trump initially asked whether the reporter was referring to the Jones Act. The journalist explained that he meant another piece of legislation passed by Congress and signed by Biden.
After hearing this, the US president gave the law a negative assessment.
"Well, that probably makes it a pretty bad law. I'll take a look at it. Sure," Trump said.
The US president promised to look into the existing ban but did not specify whether his administration intended to review the law or take any other steps.
Trump and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin recently struck a diesel deal that partially lifts sanctions on Moscow and allows Russia to import limited quantities of fuel into the United States.
In this way, Trump sought to address the situation ahead of the elections amid rising diesel prices, which had greatly angered Americans. Still, Trump's party lost the US midterm elections — this move failed to save Republicans from defeat.
Trump's diesel deal with Putin was on the verge of collapse. Tankers carrying fuel from Russia changed their destinations, with different locations listed instead of the US coast.
