Trump faces pressure to keep sanctions from GOP

GOP lawmakers are warning President Trump against lifting sanctions on Russia.

Doing so, they warn, would spark an immediate backlash from Congress while antagonizing key European allies. 

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, demanded Friday that Trump shoot down reports that he was working on an executive order to lift some sanctions on Moscow. 

“For the sake of America’s national security and that of our allies, I hope President Trump will put an end to this speculation and reject such a reckless course,” he said. 

McCain warned if Trump does not rule out lifting sanctions he would fire back by working with his Senate colleagues to codify the financial penalties implemented by the Obama administration.

{mosads}Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) predicated a hash blowback from Republican lawmakers if Trump lifts sanctions.

Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) added on Friday that he was “deeply concerned” and he would “encourage the president to reject this course of action,” he said.

Asked if he had discussed his concerns with Trump, a Portman spokesman told The Hill that “we’ve communicated [the senator’s] position to the White House.” 

McCain and Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) have introduced legislation that would make the Obama sanctions law, and toughen them in response to Moscow’s meddling in the U.S. presidential election and ongoing involvement in Ukraine and Syria.

The possibility that Trump will lift sanctions loomed large Friday after Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway told Fox News that it was under consideration.

Trump at a joint press conference with Great Britain Prime Minister Theresa May said it was premature to talk about lifting sanctions ahead of a call he is scheduled to have Saturday with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“We’ll see what happens as far as the sanctions,” he told reporters. 

But he repeated his hopes for a stronger and more positive relationship with Russia, something that would be in line with lifting or easing sanctions.  

In the House, lawmakers overwhelmingly passed legislation late last year targeting Russia’s involvement in Syria.

House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) reiterated on Friday that he thought the Obama administration was slow to slap financial penalties on Moscow.

“I think sanctions are overdue,” he said at a Playbook event. “So I think they should stay.” 

Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff (Calif.)—the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee—said it would be a “grave mistake” for Trump to lift sanctions.  

“Should Trump unilaterally roll them back, Congress must reimpose these sanctions and more, overriding a presidential veto if necessary,” he said.

Trump’s warmer stance toward Russia rankled lawmakers throughout the campaign, setting up an early foreign policy wedge between the brash real estate mogul and Congress.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) took a hard line on Moscow after the election, noting on separate occasions that the final round of Obama sanctions were a “first step” and telling reporters that the “Russians are not our friends.”

But Trump has floated that Russia could be an ally on fighting terrorism as well reducing nuclear proliferation. 

Conway earlier this month painted the new president as deeply skeptical about sanctions imposed by Obama after the intelligence community concluded that Moscow had interference in the presidential election to hurt Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.  

“I predict that President Trump will want to make sure that our actions are proportionate to what occurred, based on what we know,” she told USA Today. 

The president has repeatedly denied that Russia interfered with the election, including publicly denouncing a CIA report that the Kremlin aimed to help him win the election. 

But Trump’s position has done little to win over lawmakers. 

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) reintroduced legislation earlier this month targeting Russian and Iranian support for Syria’s government.  

Rubio joined his colleagues Friday in warning Trump against lifting sanctions.  

“I think it would be a mistake to lift sanctions against Russia,” he said in a statement to The Hill, “unless the conditions attached to those sanctions are met.” 

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the Senate’s top Democrat, Cardin and McCain are separately working on legislation that would require congressional approval before Trump could lift any Russia sanctions.

“I think it would be horrible to give any sanction relief to Russia while it’s still occupying Crimea,” Cardin told The Hill. “We let Ukraine go, what country’s next? Russia would be given free reign.”