---
title: "«A Vile and Cowardly Act»: Blumenthal Blasts Trump Over Pausing 'Hellish Sanctions' Against Russia"
description: "Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal criticized Donald Trump for suspending 'hellish sanctions' against Russia, calling the decision vile and cowardly and urging Republicans to join the condemnation."
date: 2026-10-17T14:27:50.466Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/blumenthal-blasts-trump-over-pausing-russian-sanctions
tags: [richard-blumenthal, donald-trump, sanctions-against-russia, us-congress, lindsey-graham]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# «A Vile and Cowardly Act»: Blumenthal Blasts Trump Over Pausing 'Hellish Sanctions' Against Russia

![American senator in a suit and tie sharply criticizing US policy.](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/17/blumental-kritikuet-trampa-za-priostanovku-adskih-sankcij-protiv-rossii/blumental-kritikuet-trampa-za-priostanovku-adskih-sankcij-protiv-rossii-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, co-author of the 'hellish sanctions' law, publicly criticized Trump for pausing them.
- Blumenthal called the decision 'vile and cowardly' and urged Republicans to join in condemning it.
- Trump signed a decree suspending sanctions, utilizing the repeal provision embedded in the law promoted by Lindsey Graham.
- According to Blumenthal, the decision is unrelated to US national security and stems from pandering to Putin.

Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, who co-authored the bill on 'hellish sanctions' against Russia with Lindsey Graham, has publicly criticized US President Donald Trump for refusing to impose these restrictions. This is reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing Blumenthal's statement on the social network X. According to the Democrat, the decision of the White House chief contradicts the will of the majority of Americans and their representatives in the US Congress.

### Call for Republicans to Join Condemnation

In his appeal, Blumenthal stated that Trump 'confirms once again that he is siding with a bloodthirsty thug and those who facilitate the Russian war machine, and against the majority of Americans, their representatives in both houses of Congress, and our European allies.' The Democrat also appealed to his Republican colleagues, urging them to join in condemning what he called 'a vile and cowardly act.'

### Suspension, Not Cancellation: How Trump's Decree Works

It will be recalled that Donald Trump signed a decree suspending 'hellish sanctions' against Russia—large-scale tariffs, restrictions, and sanctions promoted by the late Senator Lindsey Graham for purchasing Russian energy carriers. To do this, Trump used the sanctions repeal provision embedded in the very law that Graham championed as a tool to punish Russia for the war in Ukraine. The law also provided for the expansion of sanctions against Iran.

### Formal Introduction and Actual Freezing

According to the text of the directive, it formally introduces tariffs but simultaneously halts their enforcement. This means that Trump retains the ability to use these restrictions at another time if he deems it necessary. Thus, the sanctions mechanism is not abolished, but rather transferred to a suspended status.

### National Security or Sucking Up to Putin

Blumenthal stressed that Trump's decision has nothing to do with US national security and is exclusively related to his pandering to Vladimir Putin. According to the Democratic senator's assessment, the suspension of restrictions ignores the position of the majority of Americans and their representatives in both chambers of Congress, as well as the position of European allies, which, he said, makes Washington's move internally contradictory.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- ["Подлый и трусливый поступок": сенатор Блюменталь набросился на Трампа из-за санкций против РФ](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/pidliy-i-boyaguzliviy-vchinok-senator-blyumental-1792225052.html) - Primary source: Blumenthal's quotes from his post on X and the description of Trump's decree pausing the 'hellish sanctions', including the repeal provision and expansion of sanctions against Iran.

## FAQ

### Who criticized Trump for suspending sanctions against Russia?

Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, who drafted the 'hellish sanctions' law against Russia alongside Lindsey Graham.

### What exactly did Trump do with the 'hellish sanctions'?

Trump signed a decree suspending them, using the sanctions repeal provision embedded in the law promoted by Lindsey Graham. The directive formally introduces tariffs but halts their enforcement, leaving open the possibility of bringing them back at another time.

### How did Blumenthal explain the motives behind Trump's decision?

According to Blumenthal, the decision has nothing to do with US national security and is solely related to Trump pandering to Putin, while also contradicting the will of the majority of Americans and their representatives in Congress.