President Trump says the United States will “take over” the Strait of Hormuz and get paid to guard it, sharpening his toughest warning yet to Iran over threats to shut the world’s oil lifeline.

Story Snapshot

• Trump tells Fox News the U.S. will be the “guardian” of the Strait of Hormuz and should be reimbursed for keeping it open.
• He signals support for tolls or fees on passage, unless Iran agrees to a deal that ends threats to global oil traffic.
• Trump vows no country, including Iran or Oman, will be allowed to “control” the international waterway.
• The remarks come amid U.S. naval blockades, new strikes on Iran, and dueling claims over who really controls the strait.

Trump Talks ‘Taking Over’ Hormuz And Getting Paid

President Donald Trump used a phone interview on Fox News to lay out a simple idea that speaks to many Americans’ sense of fairness: if the United States Navy is going to keep the Strait of Hormuz open for the world, then other rich nations should help pay the bill. Trump said the U.S. would “probably run it,” become the “guardian of the strait,” and “get paid for guarding it – a lot of money,” stressing that Gulf partners are wealthy and on America’s side.

Trump’s new comments build on weeks of tough talk and military moves in the narrow waterway, where about 20 percent of the world’s oil passes. He has claimed “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz and ordered a naval blockade aimed at choking off Iran’s trade while letting other countries’ ships move. At the same time, he has insisted that U.S. actions are meant to protect global energy flows and stop Iran from using the strait as leverage to bully the world with threats and mines.

Blocking Iran’s Oil Leverage, Protecting Global Supply

Trump’s team says Iran tried to use the Strait of Hormuz as a weapon, mining the waters and demanding tolls from ships to pass, even as its leaders threatened to close the route outright. In response, Trump announced that the United States would begin a “complete” blockade, targeting vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports so Tehran could not profit while families around the world felt pain at the pump. He told Fox News it would be “all or none,” and promised to interdict “every vessel in international waters that has paid a toll to Iran,” casting the policy as a stand against extortion.

For conservative readers, the stakes are clear: when Iran plays games with a vital oil chokepoint, American drivers, farmers, and small businesses feel it first. Trump’s “peace through strength” approach aims to stop Iran from squeezing the global economy and to make sure hostile regimes cannot use energy as a weapon against the United States or its allies. By threatening a tougher squeeze on Iran’s own exports, he is trying to flip the pressure back on the regime that has long funded terror and stirred chaos across the Middle East.

‘Nobody’s Going To Control It’: International Waters And Red Lines

Even as he talks about America “taking over” the strait, Trump has also made it clear that the Strait of Hormuz is international waters and cannot legally be claimed by any single country. At a cabinet meeting, Trump said “international waters – nobody’s going to control it,” and vowed that the U.S. would “watch over it” so no side, including Iran, could dominate the passage. He warned that if Oman or any other country tried to assert control in a way that shut out others, the United States would consider strong military action to stop it.

This mixed message reflects a hard line many presidents have taken, but Trump’s words are unusually blunt. He is signaling that U.S. forces will act as a kind of sheriff in the waterway, even while he admits no nation can legally own it. For constitutional conservatives, the key issue is whether the mission stays focused on defending freedom of navigation and American interests, rather than sliding into open-ended global policing or new blank-check commitments that drain taxpayers and stretch the military thin.

War, Blockade, And A Fight Over Who Really ‘Controls’ Hormuz

Trump’s Fox News comments come as the U.S.–Iran war over Hormuz has entered a tense phase, with both sides claiming control and global shipping dropping. Trump has authorized strikes on Iranian targets and ordered carriers into the region, while Iran has seized vessels, threatened to “set ships ablaze,” and at times declared the strait closed. U.S. Central Command has pushed back, saying the strait remains open to lawful shipping, but independent tracking shows traffic is far below normal and many tanker owners are still wary about risk.

4 hours ago – 38°53′N 77°2′W

Trump on Iran: We had an agreement, and they broke it. We will be the guardians of the Strait of Hormuz.https://t.co/dbxl1U6m2S pic.twitter.com/PPxMe0tIGI

— Creatorskid (@Tuberoot) July 13, 2026

Trump has also tried to build an international coalition, urging other affected countries to send warships “in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe.” Iran, meanwhile, insists it retains authority over transit and warns foreign vessels to follow its rules or face attack. Legal experts point out that any blockade or use of force must rest on self-defense or approval by the United Nations Security Council, a reminder that America’s actions will be judged by more than just raw power. For conservatives, the question is whether strong steps now can prevent a larger war later and force Iran back to the table.

Sources:

mediaite.com, apnews.com, usatoday.com, youtube.com, michaelianblack.substack.com, democrats.senate.gov, bbc.com, npr.org