US Treasury chief rebuffs criticism of diesel deal with Putin: 'Good for the American people'

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Saturday (local time) rebuffed criticism of a US-Russia diesel supply agreement, calling it "good for the American people."

Speaking to Fox News that day, Bessent said the administration would use "all legal authorities" to implement the deal. "It's good for the American people, and it will help bring down diesel prices," he said.

He rebuffed claims that easing sanctions on Russia to allow diesel imports would violate US law, calling such arguments "wrong."

President Donald Trump said Oct. 9 that he had reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to supply Russian diesel to the United States and global markets on a large scale. The Treasury Department moved in tandem, announcing a temporary easing of sanctions on Russia to permit, among other things, the import of Russian diesel into the United States.

The diesel deal — which in effect trades sanctions relief for Russian energy — has drawn criticism even within Trump's own Republican Party, with some members saying it amounts to a concession to Putin. The opposition Democratic Party has been sharper in its condemnation, accusing Trump of making a deal with the devil as he faces pressure from surging diesel prices.