Full story
Trump’s “Trump Strait” bid
U.S. President Donald Trump proposed renaming the Strait of Hormuz as the “Trump Strait” on Wednesday, saying on Truth Social, “Since it is now under U.S. control, should we rename the Hormuz Strait to Trump Strait???, in the same spirit as America itself, it would be more exciting than ever!”
“Since it is now under U.S. control, should we rename the Hormuz Strait to Trump Strait???”
The proposal came as the Strait of Hormuz “remains disputed amid the war with Iran,” with Al-Wasat describing renewed military escalation between Washington and Tehran and noting that Washington has carried out strikes on Iranian targets near the strait in recent days while Tehran responded by targeting American and allied sites in the region.
India Today said the timing is striking because the waterway is not U.S. territory, adding that the Strait of Hormuz lies between Iran and Oman and is an international maritime passage vital to global energy supplies.
The Hill reported that Trump floated the change “despite the waterway not having a single owner,” and said the idea followed Trump’s earlier suggestion that he would make the strait a U.S. territory.
The dispute over control is reflected in the way traffic has fallen, with Al-Wasat citing Reuters navigation data showing four merchant ships carrying goods passed through the strait on Tuesday compared with ten the previous day.
Claims of control, contested
Trump’s assertion of control is repeated across outlets, with the Hill quoting him on Truth Social: “Like America itself, it would be ‘hotter’ than ever before!”
Newser similarly framed the proposal as Trump mused on Truth Social about rechristening the strait as “TRUMP STRAIT,” claiming the U.S. now effectively controls the passage and suggesting the new name would make the strait “hotter” than ever, while also noting that last month he said he planned to declare the waterway a US territory.
The National described the strait as “largely closed,” saying shipping levels are a fraction of prewar norms and that rising energy prices and the unresolved Iran conflict have pushed Trump’s approval ratings lower ahead of November's midterm elections.
Time reported that Iran’s Foreign Ministry insisted the U.S. attacked civilian areas and service infrastructure in provinces including Khuzestan, Sistan and Baluchestan, Hormozgan, and Kerman, and said a wedding ceremony in Kuhestak, Sirik County, had been struck, resulting in fatalities and injuries.
Time also said CENTCOM spokesperson Navy Captain Tim Hawkins told the magazine, “The U.S. military never targets civilians, unlike the IRGC.”
Shipping disruption and next moves
Beyond the naming proposal, the sources tie the standoff to disrupted shipping and energy impacts, with Al-Wasat saying navigation has heavily declined since the outbreak of the war due to rising military risks and threats to attack ships.
“only six ships crossed the Strait on Tuesday”
Time reported that Kpler data shared with the magazine showed only six ships crossed the Strait on Tuesday, down from 19 vessels on Friday last week, and said before the Iran war began on Feb. 28, 138 vessels typically passed through the vital trade waterway during a 24-hour period.
The Hill said the war with Iran has slowed traffic and sent energy prices skyrocketing worldwide, while also stating that the U.S. maintains its naval blockade on the shipping route.
Time added that UKMTO reported an attack on a tanker transiting the Strait that resulted in two casualties, and that Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry reported Iran had targeted a Saudi tanker in the waterway, with UKMTO later stating that two crew members had been killed.
In parallel, Al-Wasat said Trump threatened in August to take a more controversial step by announcing he might declare the Hormuz Strait to be “U.S. territory,” and noted that Tehran denied U.S. claims of control even as the strait became a prominent battlefront with implications for trade, oil prices, and security of navigation in the Gulf.