On September 2, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump made a provocative suggestion on his Truth Social platform: rename the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz as the “Trump Strait.” Here are the verified facts surrounding this claim.
In a post on his Truth Social network, Trump wrote: “Now that we have it under U.S.A. control, should we change the name Hormuz Strait to TRUMP STRAIT??? Like America itself, it would be ‘hotter’ than ever before!” He ended the post with “President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
Trump’s suggestion was based on his assertion that the United States now has control over the waterway. This followed a White House statement on August 28, 2026, claiming that U.S. forces had established control, citing the clearance of Iranian mines, the movement of nearly 1,500 commercial vessels under U.S. protection, and the redirection of vessels attempting to breach a U.S. blockade. Trump had also previously stated in August that he planned to declare the Strait of Hormuz a U.S. territory.
This proposal is part of a series of geographical name changes floated by Trump. He previously ordered the Gulf of Mexico to be referred to as the “Gulf of America” by federal agencies in January 2025. More recently, a week prior to the Hormuz post, he suggested renaming Lake Ontario to “Lake America.”
Despite Trump’s claims, the Strait of Hormuz remains a contested international waterway. It is bordered by the territorial waters of Iran and Oman, and no single country has the authority to unilaterally rename international waterways. Such features are governed by global conventions and long-standing geographic consensus. Legally, a “Strait of Trump” cannot exist, as Trump can only direct name changes within the U.S. government’s official naming system, not for the rest of the world.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Roughly 20% of the world’s oil and gas passes through it, making it a central flashpoint in the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict. The war has effectively slowed traffic and sent energy prices soaring worldwide.
It was not immediately clear if Trump was serious about the potential name change. The statement was framed by many outlets as a provocative suggestion rather than a formal policy announcement. However, given that Trump has previously followed through on similar geographical name changes after making what initially appeared to be jovial remarks, the suggestion has been taken seriously by observers.
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