Trump calls supporters of sanctions against Russia 'stupid people'

U.S. President Donald Trump disparaged supporters who advocated for sanctions against Russia during remarks made on October 30. He contended that such measures could have facilitated the release of American citizen Stephen Hubbard, who was incarcerated in a Russian prison. Trump maintained that Moscow would only mock such restrictions.

He used Hubbard's case as an illustration to support his stance. Hubbard, a 73-year-old former teacher from Michigan, was apprehended by Russian forces in Ukraine in April 2022. He was charged with allegedly acting as a mercenary in Ukraine's military. The United States has classified Hubbard as an innocent victim of wrongful detention.

He was finally liberated on October 21, during a visit by Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to St. Petersburg. Trump attributed his request for Hubbard's release to a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He emphasized that no prisoner exchange took place. The Kremlin attributed the release to humanitarian concerns.

On October 18, the Associated Press reported that President Trump's decision to postpone sanctions on Russia faced harsh criticism from American lawmakers from both parties. However, significant congressional reaction is not anticipated until after the midterm elections. On October 16, Trump temporarily halted the implementation of sanctions on the primary purchasers of Russian oil and gas, as mandated by legislation championed by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.

Trump justified the decision by citing U.S. national interests. This announcement followed his signing of HR 5334, the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, on September 18. The bill, co-authored by Richard Blumenthal, aims to strengthen sanctions on Russian officials, banks, and vessels involved in circumventing trade restrictions on Russian energy. It also imposes a ban on new U.S. investments in Russia and the acquisition of its sovereign debt.