Capitol Hill is bracing for a full-blown scramble as President Donald Trump greenlit a tough Russia sanctions bill, and Sen. Lindsey Graham is practically grinning from ear to ear.
The South Carolina Republican confirmed Wednesday that Trump has given his approval to move forward with a bipartisan sanctions package targeting Russia and countries doing business with it amid the ongoing Ukraine war. Graham immediately framed the move as a major victory for congressional influence and U.S. leverage abroad.
“We’ve got the president’s support to let it advance,” Graham told reporters after a White House meeting, according to Reuters. The bill could reach the Senate floor as early as next week, he said, a sign that the GOP lawmaker is positioning himself as a key player in shaping U.S. foreign policy heading into 2026.
The legislation would impose sanctions on Russia for its ongoing invasion of Ukraine and target countries that buy its energy exports, including major players like China and India. Graham framed the bill as essential to choking off Moscow’s funding for the war and insisted it would earn broad bipartisan support. “This bill will allow President Trump to punish those countries who buy cheap Russian oil fueling Putin’s war machine,” Graham said. “We’re looking forward to a strong bipartisan vote.”
The unusual level of GOP–Democrat alignment on sanctions marks a rare moment of unity in Washington, but lawmakers are already scrambling over the logistics. Procedural hurdles, committee markups, and floor votes will test whether Graham’s framing of a quick, bipartisan win can actually survive Capitol Hill politics.
Trump’s surprising move is the political headline here. Previous iterations of U.S. policy leaned on narrower sanctions or targeted tariffs, but his backing signals a willingness to pursue a more comprehensive crackdown, linking Congress and the White House in a shared strategy to pressure Moscow economically.
Graham’s reaction is telling. He’s openly reveling in the perceived win, using Trump’s support to burnish his foreign policy credentials and claim momentum heading into an election year. Other lawmakers, meanwhile, are calculating their next moves as the Senate navigates potential global backlash and domestic political fallout.
Whether the sanctions package ultimately becomes law remains uncertain, but the scramble on Capitol Hill is already underway. One thing is clear: the announcement has pushed the U.S. closer to a high-stakes showdown with Russia, and Graham couldn’t look happier about it.
