Massie sides with Trump’s Russia diesel deal despite fraught relationship

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) expressed support for President Donald Trump’s recent decision to allow Russia to sell diesel fuel to the United States and global markets on Sunday.The two Republican figures have maintained an adversarial relationship throughout Trump’s second term, particularly over the White House’s handling of the Epstein files, the conflict in Iran, and federal spending. Massie was one of two House Republicans who voted against Trump’s signature legislative achievement, the One Big Beautiful Bill, and similarly stalled a Trump-backed stimulus package during the COVID-19 pandemic.Massie’s surprising alignment with Trump comes after the deal drew backlash from some Republicans throughout the weekend, as Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and John Curtis (R-UT) sent a letter to Trump telling him to “reverse course immediately” on Sunday. Former Vice President Mike Pence and conservative commentator Laura Loomer similarly expressed frustration with the deal on Saturday, while Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Don Bacon (R-NE) said they would sponsor legislation “to block any and all purchases of Russian oil.” “In 2022 I voted against Russia sanctions, pointing out that U.S. citizens would suffer from higher prices,” Massie said. “Glad to see Trump came around to that reality this week. We should lift sanctions on all the petroleum products, and on raw metals like copper and aluminum.”The lame-duck lawmaker’s reelection campaign ended when he lost the primary to Trump-backed former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein, who won by almost 10 percentage points. Massie’s defeat served as one of many examples of Trump’s endorsement power throughout the spring, as the Kentucky lawmaker spearheaded resistance to the White House alongside Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA).“Russia will immediately supply over 300,000 Tons of Diesel Fuel to the American and Global Marketplace, another 500,000 Tons during the month of November, and 1,000,000 tons immediately thereafter,” Trump outlined in the initial announcement on Friday. “Additionally, based on the condition of their Diesel Refineries, Russia will then deliver, within a short period of time, 3,000,000 Tons of Diesel Fuel.”SIX SENATORS DEMAND TRUMP ‘IMMEDIATELY REVERSE COURSE’ ON RUSSIAN DIESEL DEALTrump announced Sunday morning that an “energy ceasefire” had been struck between Russia and Ukraine. Trump has searched for solutions to high energy prices in recent weeks and months as stubborn inflation threatens the GOP’s chances of retaining control of Congress in November’s midterm elections. Trump turned to berating Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky late last week for striking Russian oil refineries, arguing high domestic gas prices are in part due to Ukraine’s targeting of such sites.Zelensky would later say on Sunday that Russia broke the ceasefire agreement and struck a power plant mere hours after Trump announced the agreement.