The absence of Russia on the president’s new list of countries that he’ll hit with steep tariffs did not go unnoticed on social media. Critics were quick to accuse Trump of kowtowing to Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom Trump has for years expressed his admiration of.

Russia and North Korea were excluded from Trump's tariff list as neither country engages in meaningful trade relations with the United States.

The White House has clarified its decision to keep Russia off President Donald Trump’s sweeping “Liberation Day” tariffs list after it raised some eyebrows, explaining that Moscow already faced tough sanctions – and the threat of even more loomed large.