Trump Says the US Does Not Need the Strait of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump appears to be downplaying US dependence on the Strait of Hormuz in his latest speech addressing the war with Iran. Trump claimed that the US “does not need” the Strait of Hormuz, which is a vital waterway for global energy supplies.
The Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway for global oil and gas supplies, has been impacted by the ongoing war between the US and Israel against Iran. Crossing activity in this vital waterway has been effectively restricted since early March.
This has caused many countries to bear the brunt of the global disruptions, increasing shipping costs and pushing global oil prices higher.
However, Trump, as reported by CNN on Thursday (2/4/2026), stated that the US does not need the Strait of Hormuz much.
“The United States barely imports oil through the Strait of Hormuz and will not import it from there in the future. We do not need it,” Trump said in his latest speech on the war against Iran, delivered at the White House on Wednesday (1/4) evening.
Noting that the US is the world leader in oil and gas production, Trump claimed his country is protected from supply shocks triggered by the war. That statement, CNN noted, will be hard to swallow for many Americans as they feel the impact of petrol price hikes exceeding $4 per gallon for the first time since 2022.
Trump’s statement is also seen as ignoring how the war, started by the US and Israel, has upended global markets and economies, causing many of Washington’s allies in Asia and Europe to bear the brunt.
The Strait of Hormuz is crossed by 20% of the world’s oil consumption, with most of the crude oil transported across the strait ending up in Asia, which is heavily reliant on oil and gas imports from Gulf countries.
Since the war began in late February, crossings in the Strait of Hormuz have plummeted by around 95%, according to maritime intelligence firm Kpler, with impacts felt across global energy markets.
“Countries in the world that receive oil through the Strait of Hormuz must protect that route… We will help, but they must lead in protecting the oil they so heavily rely on,” Trump said in his speech.
Trump also claimed that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen “naturally” after the war ends, and that “gas prices will soon drop back down” – a statement that has been contradicted by economists and analysts.
With energy infrastructure in the region damaged and prolonged supply disruptions, analysts have warned that global oil prices are likely to remain high for the same period, even if the war ends soon.
Trump, in his speech, also said that the war against Iran is “almost over”, with US objectives nearly achieved. Trump also praised US military forces, which he called “achieving extraordinary victories”.
However, Trump also signalled that the US is ready to intensify its military response to Iran over the next 2-3 weeks, and sparked talk of bombing Iran back to the “Stone Age”.