Published by Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
United States President Donald Trump has suggested renaming the strategic Strait of Hormuz after himself, proposing that the vital waterway, through which roughly a fifth of the world's oil passes, be called the "Trump Strait." The proposal, made in a post on his Truth Social network on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, comes as the US is engaged in a seven-month-long war with Iran over control of the chokepoint.
"Now that we have it under USA control, should we change the name Hormuz Strait to TRUMP STRAIT???" Trump wrote. "Like America itself, it would be 'hotter' than ever before!" The suggestion follows a pattern of geographical name changes floated by the 80-year-old president. Just a week ago, he ordered Lake Ontario to be renamed "Lake America" amid a trade war with Canada, and on his first day back in office in January 2025, he renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America."
Trump's proposal comes less than 24 hours after US forces launched fresh strikes near the Strait of Hormuz, which Trump said targeted new minelaying efforts by Iran. The US strikes reportedly hit a wedding party in the southern Iranian city of Sirik, killing at least four people, including two children. Iran responded with missile launches against US bases in the region. The fighting has pushed oil prices upwards by around 4 percent, and petrol prices in the US have risen to $4.12 per gallon, up from less than $3 before the war started on February 28.
The White House further fueled speculation by posting an excerpt of a map on its X page showing the Strait of Hormuz labeled "Trump Strait." However, when asked by reporters on Wednesday afternoon whether he really intended to rename the strait, Trump appeared to walk back the suggestion, saying: "No, no ... it was just thrown out there." He told reporters that the renewed US campaign against Iran would not continue for "too long" and that the US military "took out all of the new equipment that they tried to build along the Strait of Hormuz." "It was a very heavy attack last night, and we're prepared to do another one any time we want," he said.
Trump has in recent weeks repeatedly pressed the threat to claim sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, even posting a map showing the waterway as a "new US territory." Last month, he told a rally in Long Island: "After we finish defeating Iran -- which is being very badly defeated -- pretty soon I'll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States." However, Iran has effectively shut down the chokepoint in retaliation for the war Trump started along with Israel in late February. Iran continues to maintain that the waterway is closed and under its control, while the UK Maritime Trade Operations has been reporting near-daily attacks on vessels in Hormuz.
Trump's suggestion has drawn criticism, with observers noting that the strait is an international waterway that has some water in Oman and Iran territories. The war with Iran has surpassed the six-month mark, and Trump has admitted he is "not trying to force Iran to the negotiating table." "I couldn't care less if they sign a worthless, to them, agreement. I like our position now much better, with almost total control of the Hormuz Strait, and their economy totally collapsing," Trump stated on Truth Social.
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