WASHINGTON — House Speaker Mike Johnson called Sunday for “overdue” sanctions on Russia — but said lawmakers would be following President Trump’s lead on the next steps.
Johnson’s (R-La.) threw his weight behind the sanction effort after Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) called for it to be tacked onto legislation to avert a government shutdown in two weeks.
“I do believe that desperate times call for desperate measures, and I think appropriate sanctions on Russia are far overdue,” Johnson told CBS News’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday as Vladimir Putin’s forces continue to target Ukraine.
“There’s a big appetite for that in Congress, so we’re willing to work with the White House and our Senate colleagues in the House to get that done and I’m anxious to do it, personally.”
Months ago, a bipartisan group of senators led by Graham and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) rolled out a sanctions package that has garnered some 85 co-sponsors.
That package would impose secondary tariffs on countries that purchase oil from Russia in an effort to undercut a key source of funding for Moscow’s war machine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has strongly endorsed the effort. Trump has largely brushed it aside, contending that he has the power to impose those penalties via executive action. White House officials have said legislative action could complicate the US brokering a peace agreement.
Trump had threatened to forge ahead with secondary tariffs against Russia last month, but backed off after Putin met with special envoy Steve Witkoff. Trump then held a summit with Putin in Alaska.
Since then, however, Putin has launched massive drone and missile strikes on Ukraine.
On Saturday, Trump called upon NATO allies to team up with him in imposing a coordinated sanctions campaign against Russia, which is already subject to crippling economic penalties from the West.
“Congress really can’t do this on its own volition because, of course, the President would need to sign whatever we do into law,” the speaker noted when asked if he is waiting on the green light from Trump.
“We defer to the commander in chief. I mean, the President is a strong and bold leader on the world stage.”
Last year, Johnson survived a mutiny attempt spearheaded by firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) after taking up a vote on a bill to marshal some $61 billion worth of aid to war-torn Ukraine.
