Michigan Republican Senate hopeful Mike Rogers on Sunday voiced concerns about the Trump administration's deal to import Russian diesel, saying he is troubled by the appearance of the arrangement even as he acknowledged the president's goal of lowering fuel costs.
In an interview with CNN's Dana Bash on “State of the Union,” Rogers, a former congressman, said he understands President Trump’s motivation—to bring down diesel prices that are squeezing American families—but he remains wary. “I do worry about the optics of it, but I understand what his motives are,” Rogers said. “His motives are: try to get prices back down on diesel. Diesel's hurting us.”
Rogers, who is running in a tight race in Michigan, said he would have backed the bipartisan sanctions package signed into law last month, which was named in honor of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). That law is designed to pressure Moscow to end its military campaign against Ukraine by imposing tariffs on major purchasers of Russian energy and on entities that help Russia evade sanctions.
“I don’t think we can give Putin an inch,” Rogers said, adding that if the strategy proves successful, “good on them, because that means we’re going to pay less for diesel in the United States.” He expressed doubt, however, that the deal will work as the administration hopes. “I’m just a little skeptical that this will work the way the administration wants it to work,” he said.
The Michigan Republican also pressed for a resolution to the conflict with Iran, arguing that high fuel prices are a direct consequence. “We’re paying a pretty heavy price here in Michigan,” Rogers said. “We’ve got to get these prices down, which is why I call to—hey, it’s time to wrap up the Iran conflict. We’ve got to get this thing settled.” He added that the initial objectives have been met and that it is time to end the conflict and put more money back in people’s wallets.
Rogers has been among a number of GOP candidates in the midterms who have called for ending the war to lower gas prices. In a campaign ad last month, he said Michigan families cannot “afford to wait” for the conflict to end to see relief at the pump.
The diesel arrangement came into focus on Friday when Trump issued an executive order waiving sanctions against Russia that were set to take effect as part of the sanctions package. Trump said he certified to Congress that the waiver is in the national interest. Under the deal, Russia would immediately supply 300,000 tons of diesel, with an additional 500,000 tons in November and one million tons shortly thereafter.
The move drew bipartisan backlash on Capitol Hill, with five Republican lawmakers joining Democrats in condemning the relief. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the deal a “birthday gift” to Putin and said he felt “betrayed” by Trump’s decision. On Saturday, Zelensky signaled openness to negotiations and urged the U.S. to pressure Russia instead of Ukraine. “Otherwise, it’s simply unfair,” he said on X.
The controversy underscores the delicate balance Trump faces as he seeks to address domestic fuel costs while managing a volatile international crisis. For Rogers, the politics are personal: Michigan voters are feeling the pinch, and the Senate race is one of the most closely watched in the country. As he campaigns, Rogers is walking a line between supporting Trump’s efforts and signaling independence on an issue that hits home.
