In a stern message to America’s international trade partners, US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has said that Donald Trump will impose 100 per cent tariffs on countries that continue to buy oil from Russia, naming China, India, and Brazil in particular.

“Trump is going to impose tariffs on people that buy Russian oil, China, India, and Brazil,” Graham said during an interview with Fox News.

According to Graham, these three nations account for nearly 80 per cent of Russia’s discounted crude purchases, which he said is directly helping to finance President Vladimir Putin’s military efforts.

He said the purpose of such tariffs is to cut off the financial resources sustaining Russia’s war in Ukraine, and that Trump’s leadership will not follow a lenient approach.

“The game has changed when it comes to you, President Putin. You have played President Trump at your own peril. You made a major league mistake and your economy is going to continue to be crushed,” Graham warned.

He then issued a strong warning to the three countries, saying, “Here’s what I would tell China, India and Brazil: If you keep buying cheap Russian oil to allow this war to continue, we’re going to tear up the hell out of you and we’re going to crush your economy, because what you’re doing is blood money.”

Graham’s comments are being seen as a clear indication of the aggressive foreign policy direction Trump may take.

This statement comes at a time when India and China remain major importers of Russian crude, often at discounted prices due to sanctions from the West. Brazil, while importing less oil, has also continued its trade relationship with Moscow during the ongoing war.

Although there has been no official policy declaration from the White House, Graham’s remarks are being treated as an early signal of how Trump’s foreign policy could shift, with real consequences for some of the world’s rapidly growing economies.

Graham also said that the United States would keep supplying weapons to Ukraine to help fight Russian forces. He added that Trump’s backing of Israeli strikes on Iran had already damaged Tehran’s nuclear capabilities and called the Ayatollah a “religious Nazi.”