Tom Emmer defended President Trump’s decision to open U.S. markets to Russian diesel during an appearance on ABC News’ This Week, saying the move shows the president is “thinking out of the box.”
Emmer, the House majority whip, told co-anchor Jonathan Karl that the president is “trying to find every answer possible to help the American people,” and framed the diesel plan as a pragmatic step to ease fuel costs for farmers, ranchers and truckers, according to ABC’s video post of the interview.
Coverage from multiple outlets shows the policy change followed a White House claim that Russia would supply oil markets with diesel; reporting also notes that the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a license allowing the sale and importation of Russian diesel into the United States through April 7, 2027.
Energy analysts quoted in the coverage warned the shipments may shift existing cargoes rather than significantly lower U.S. prices, and one strategist said the deal could relieve pressure on Moscow rather than punish it, per reporting in Yahoo and CNN.
The ABC News video clip shows Emmer arguing the administration is focused on lowering costs ahead of the midterm elections and urging Republican voters not to be complacent; he also defended related White House moves discussed on the program, per the ABC video page.
Opposition has been bipartisan in some corners: other outlets report lawmakers and analysts expressed concern that accepting Russian fuel undermines sanctions meant to pressure Moscow over its war in Ukraine, a criticism detailed in CNN’s analysis of the broader political fallout.
Sources
- ABC News — video of Tom Emmer’s interview on This Week and the quote “It’s another example of our president thinking out of the box.”
- Yahoo News — reported that the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a license authorizing importation of Russian diesel through April 7, 2027, and summarized Emmer’s remarks.
- CNN — analysis of political backlash and expert commentary noting the move’s potential impact on sanctions and diesel prices.
