--- title: "Trump Calls Law Banning Russian Fuel Imports 'Pretty Bad' and Promises to Review It" description: "U.S. President Donald Trump described the law banning Russian fuel imports as \"pretty bad\" and promised to review it after a journalist's question about a diesel tanker." date: 2026-11-05T22:58:47.925Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/trump-calls-law-banning-russian-fuel-imports-pretty-bad tags: [trump, russia-fuel, us-sanctions, white-house, biden-law] author: "Andrey Kosynko" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Trump Calls Law Banning Russian Fuel Imports 'Pretty Bad' and Promises to Review It ![Donald Trump listening carefully to a journalist's question during a White House press conference](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/05/trump-nazval-dovolno-plohim-zakon-o-zaprete-importa-topliva-iz-rossii/trump-nazval-dovolno-plohim-zakon-o-zaprete-importa-topliva-iz-rossii-1.webp) ## Key Points - Trump called the 2022 law prohibiting the unloading of Russian fuel in the U.S. "pretty bad" and promised to study the issue. - The issue was raised following a reporter's question about a Russian diesel tanker crossing the Atlantic toward the U.S. - The law was passed by Congress in 2022 and signed by Joe Biden; Trump initially confused it with the Jones Act. - The context includes a recent "diesel deal" between Trump and Putin, partial sanctions relief, and the Republicans' loss in midterm elections. - Reports indicate that tankers with Russian fuel have changed their destination, putting the deal at risk. At the White House, while speaking with reporters, U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the country's current ban on the import of Russian fuel. The conversation was prompted by a reporter mentioning a tanker carrying Russian diesel fuel that was crossing the Atlantic Ocean at that moment and reportedly heading toward the American coast. This is reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to the White House press office. ### Reminders of the 2022 Law The journalist drew the president's attention to the fact that in 2022, the U.S. Congress passed a legislative act prohibiting the unloading of Russian fuel in the United States. The document was signed by then-President Joe Biden. Upon hearing the question, Trump initially clarified whether the reporter was referring to the so-called Jones Act, but the correspondent explained that he meant a different legislative act passed by Congress and signed by Biden. ### 'A Pretty Bad Law' After the clarification, the American president gave a negative assessment of the document. "Oh, by Biden? How are you even importing... Well, then it's probably a pretty bad law. I'll look into this matter. For sure," Trump stated. Thus, the head of state promised to deal with the existing ban, without specifying whether his administration intends to review the law or take any other steps to amend or circumvent it. ### Context: Diesel Deal and Midterm Elections According to information underlying the material, Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin recently concluded a so-called diesel agreement, which partially lifts sanctions on Moscow and allows for the supply of limited volumes of fuel to the U.S. This move, according to the same source, was aimed at mitigating the rise in diesel prices before the elections, which had disgruntled American voters. However, Trump's party, as noted in the background, lost the U.S. midterm elections, and the move did not save the Republicans from failure. ### The Deal Under Threat Moreover, it was previously reported that Trump's diesel deal with Putin is under threat: tankers carrying fuel from Russia have reportedly changed their destination—instead of the U.S. coast, the navigation data now indicates other coordinates. Against this backdrop, the president's statement that he will "look into the matter" of the restrictive law looks like a potential signal for a review of the rules regarding Russian fuel imports. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Трамп назвал "довольно плохим" закон о запрете импорта топлива из РФ и пообещал разобраться](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/tramp-nazvav-dosit-poganim-zakon-zaboronu-1793918924.html) - Confirms the quote from Trump, the dialogue with the reporter regarding the tanker, the mention of the 2022 law signed by Biden, and the initial confusion with the Jones Act. Contains no information on a diesel deal or midterm elections. ## FAQ ### Which law did Trump call "pretty bad"? The law passed by the U.S. Congress in 2022 and signed by Joe Biden, which prohibits the unloading of Russian fuel on the territory of the United States. ### Why did the reporter ask Trump this question? The journalist drew the president's attention to a tanker with Russian diesel fuel crossing the Atlantic Ocean, allegedly heading to the U.S. ### What did Trump promise to do? He stated that he would look into the matter, but did not specify whether the administration intends to review the law or take other steps.