President Donald Trump gestures as he boards Air Force One at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, N.J., July 6, 2025, en route to Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
But Trump’s announcement that he would levy 100% tariffs against Moscow unless Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to end the war with Ukraine has likely again stalled that plan, and the bipartisan pair isn't mad about it.
"It sounds like right now the president is going to attempt to do some of this on his own," Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters. "If at some point the president concludes that it makes sense and adds value and leverage that he needs in those negotiations to move the bill, then we’ll do it. We’ll be ready to go."
WHITE HOUSE TAKES INTEREST IN PROPOSED RUSSIAN SANCTIONS AS UKRAINE WAR PEACE TALKS DRAG ON
Sen. Richard Blumenthal speaks to reporters outside the Senate chambers in the U.S. Capitol Feb. 27, 2025, in Washington. (Getty Images )
But that doesn’t mean that work on the bill has ceased. Graham noted that having Congress’ blessing "is good for the president" and could help him legally and politically.
"But between the weapons flowing and sanctions through tariffs on the table, I think we can say today was a game changer that we've been waiting on and hoping for, and on day 51 you want to know what happens," Graham said. "Call the Ayatollah."
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Blumenthal lauded Trump’s shift and gave him credit "for seeing through the mocking and flouting by Vladimir Putin." He argued that the bill, which has dozens of co-sponsors in the Senate and backing by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., had already made an impact and noted that Trump’s move was like a "hammer."
"Our bill is a sledgehammer," Blumenthal said.
Alex Miller is a writer for Fox News Digital covering the U.S. Senate.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/game-changer-bipartisan-senators-gunning-russia-sanctions-ready-give-trump-runway