Trump to campaign for Sen. Darline Graham despite disagreement on Russia sanctions

President Donald Trump plans to appear Wednesday alongside Sen. Darline Graham, a show of political solidarity that comes even though the two differ over the best way to push Russia toward ending its war in Ukraine. The pairing matters because it shows Trump backing a Senate ally whose approach to Moscow is not identical to his own, according to NPR.

Graham recently won the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in South Carolina. After that primary, Trump pointed to the strength of his endorsement as a force in GOP contests. NPR reports that he has since been traveling to support Republican candidates, with a stop in North Carolina, where the party halted its on-air spending for a Senate contender, and a planned rally in Alaska.

The disagreement over Russia sanctions unfolds as Trump seeks a route to a settlement in Ukraine. NPR describes several of his recent steps as friendly toward Russia. Separately, Trump has said Ukraine and Russia agreed to stop strikes on energy facilities. The appearance with Graham therefore puts a public face on party unity while the policy gap over pressuring Moscow remains.

Summarized by PolitiKool from NPR’s reporting. Read the full story at NPR →