[NB: check the byline, thanks. /~Rayne]
Trump decided arbitrarily that H.R. 5334, the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, can simply be paused and not take effect tomorrow, October 18.
Just because he says so.
There is no emergency related to Russia requiring the lifting of any of the sanctions outlined in the bill. If Trump had not launched an ill-begotten, poorly-executed war on Iran, there would never have been such a weak excuse to help Vladimir Putin based on diesel fuel stocks.
There has been no indication Trump made any effort to obtain the consent of a majority of the people for this move by outreach to its elected representatives, before signing the bill into law. This is another example of Trump’s lack of respect for the concept of consent in general.
Trump agreed to sign H.R. 5334 because it contained added sanctions against Iran he negotiated with Lindsey Graham before Graham’s death.
Trump’s job as described by Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution says “he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed”; this effort to derail a bill he already signed into law is a gross failure of his job.
It’s an impeachable offense.
No person claiming to be President of the United States is a king, whose diktats shall be obeyed. Trump cannot declare law shall be disregarded.
The sanctions should continue to take effect. If they do not, those choosing to ignore the law will face repercussions after the 120th Congress has been seated.
No king gave them the order to disobey the will of the people.
We have no kings.
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This is an open thread. Bring all your comments about No Kings here.
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