Key facts
- President Trump stated he will "soon" declare the Strait of Hormuz U.S. territory.
- Trump downplayed concerns about sailor welfare during the USS Abraham Lincoln's record deployment.
- Trump linked higher gas prices to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
President Donald Trump announced his intention to declare the Strait of Hormuz as U.S. territory once Iran is defeated. This statement comes amidst concerns about the well-being of sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which is on a record-breaking deployment. Trump dismissed these concerns, stating that families are not worried and that the deployment length of over 240 days is "not nearly long enough."
He also drew a connection between higher gas prices and efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The U.S. is reportedly preparing new penalties against Iran, while Trump has downplayed the potential impact of the upcoming midterms.