US President Donald Trump has suggested renaming the Strait of Hormuz as “Trump Strait”, linking the idea to his claim that Washington now controls the strategic waterway amid the war with Iran.
Trump floated the change on Wednesday through his Truth Social platform. The White House later amplified the proposal on X and shared a map that replaced the established name with “Trump Strait”.
“Now that we have it under USA control, should we change the name Hormuz Strait to TRUMP STRAIT??? Like America itself, it would be ‘hotter’ than ever before!” Trump wrote.
It’s got a nice ring to it pic.twitter.com/Fmzc9iUu8u
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 2, 2026
start=”643″ data-end=”690″>A symbolic proposal amid a military contest
The suggestion carries no announced international agreement and comes while control of the passage remains contested. Trump has repeatedly claimed US sovereignty over the strait in recent weeks. He has also posted a map depicting it as a “new US territory”.
The White House said on August 28 that the US Navy controlled the strait through a blockade. Iran, however, has continued trying to restrict shipping through the narrow passage in response to US and Israeli attacks.
The conflict began in late February when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran. The confrontation disrupted energy shipments and made the waterway a central military and economic battleground.
US forces launched another wave of strikes near the strait on Tuesday. The US military said it targeted Iranian air defences, radar systems, maritime assets, communications sites and mine-laying capabilities. Iran reported attacks on several locations near the waterway.
Oil markets react to renewed strikes
Global oil prices gained more than $4 a barrel on Tuesday and reached a five-week high, according to Reuters. Prices rose further on Thursday, touching six-week highs as traders assessed the risk of another major supply disruption.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said 17 million barrels of oil crossed the strait on Monday. He described that volume as the highest since the war reduced traffic. Iran has nevertheless maintained pressure on shipping, creating competing claims about who controls the route.
Read More: US Sanctions Iran’s Financial Network After Strait of Hormuz Attacks
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. US Energy Information Administration data show that it carried about one-fifth of global oil and petroleum consumption in 2024 and early 2025. It also handled around one-fifth of global liquefied natural gas trade in 2024.
Trump continues geographical renaming push
Trump’s proposal follows other attempts to change prominent geographical names. One week earlier, he signed an order directing the US government to call Lake Ontario “Lake America” during a trade dispute with Canada.
On his first day back in office in January 2025, Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America” for US federal use. Mexico and Canada have not accepted the changes involving the Gulf and Lake Ontario.
Read More: Oil Falls as US Moves to Free Stranded Ships in Strait of Hormuz
Several earlier ideas began as seemingly jovial remarks by the 80-year-old president before becoming formal US policy. It remains unclear whether the “Trump Strait” proposal will lead to an executive order or remain a social media suggestion.
