Trump Suggests Renaming Strait of Hormuz ‘Trump Strait’
- US president later appeared to play down proposal as fighting with Iran continued around the strategic waterway
US President Donald Trump has suggested renaming the Strait of Hormuz the “Trump Strait”, even as fighting between the United States and Iran continues around the strategically important waterway.
Trump made the suggestion on Wednesday in a post on his Truth Social platform, while insisting that the United States had full control of the strait.
“Now that we have it under USA control, should we change the name Hormuz Strait to Trump Strait??? Like America itself, it would be ‘hotter’ than ever before!” Trump wrote.
The White House later posted a map of the Gulf on social media using Trump’s proposed name and added: “It’s got a nice ring to it.”
Trump has repeatedly threatened in recent weeks to claim sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz and has previously posted a map depicting the waterway as a potential “new US territory”.
However, he later appeared to play down the renaming proposal when asked about it by an AFP reporter in the Oval Office.
“It was just thrown out there,” Trump said with a chuckle.
Trump has previously floated geographical renaming proposals that were initially dismissed as jokes before becoming official US policy.
Last week, he signed an order renaming Lake Ontario as “Lake America” amid tensions with neighbouring Canada, according to AFP.
In January 2025, Trump also ordered the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America”. Mexico and Canada have not accepted those changes.
Trump has also pursued other naming changes involving US institutions, including the Kennedy arts centre in Washington.
Meanwhile, the US Treasury on Wednesday issued $1 coins featuring Trump’s face to commemorate the 250th anniversary of US independence, according to AFP.
Strait remains central to Iran conflict
The renaming suggestion came as the conflict with Iran continued to disrupt shipping and global energy markets.
US forces launched fresh strikes near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday in response to what Trump described as new Iranian efforts to lay mines in the waterway.
Iran said one of the US strikes killed four people at a wedding and described the attack as a “war crime”. Tehran subsequently launched retaliatory attacks against US bases in Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain and Iraq.
The conflict has also contributed to rising fuel costs in the United States and created political pressure for Trump’s Republican Party ahead of the November midterm elections.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy corridors, with roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies passing through the waterway under normal conditions.
Iran has severely restricted traffic through the strait in response to the conflict, according to AFP.
Trump said on Wednesday that the United States remained prepared to launch further attacks against Iran, while indicating that the renewed military campaign would not continue for “too long”.
“It was a very heavy attack last night, and we’re prepared to do another one any time we want,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
Source: AFP