Washington, Oct. 18 -- US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended President Donald Trump on Sunday regarding his choice to set aside sweeping Russian tariffs and sanctions established under legislation championed by the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, asserting that "no one has been tougher" than the American head of state.

During an appearance on NBC News's Meet the Press, Bessent defended the administration's decision to pause enforcement of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act. This move has encountered strong pushback from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, alongside legislators from both major political parties. The executive branch waived the provisions soon after reaching an agree...