Trump considers renaming Strait of Hormuz after either America or himself -- once he evicts Iran
Share this @internewscast.com

WASHINGTON — The power to name often belongs to the conqueror.

President Trump is keen on asserting control over the Strait of Hormuz, frustrated by the lack of military support from allied nations to ensure the critical maritime passage remains open. Sources revealed to The Post that once Trump successfully curtails Iran’s influence over this vital global shipping route, he is contemplating renaming it to the “Strait of America,” or potentially even after himself.

“We’re reclaiming the Strait. It’s a done deal, and they won’t be able to leverage it against us ever again,” a senior administration official confidently remarked to The Post. “You can bank on it.”

While Trump has indicated that Iran is significantly weakened and open to negotiation, his administration aims to solidify their objectives in the Middle East. This includes eliminating Iran’s ability to disrupt shipping or assert control over the Strait of Hormuz.

“The President believes that if we’re responsible for its security, maintenance, and policing, ensuring free passage, then why should it retain the name ‘Hormuz’?” the senior official explained.

“Why not call it something like the ‘Strait of America’?”

Trump told a Saudi investor forum Friday evening in Miami that he might even decide to call the Strait after himself, rather than America.

“They have to open up the Strait of Trump — I mean Hormuz,” Trump said.

“Excuse me, I’m so sorry. Such a terrible mistake. The Fake News will say, ‘he accidentally said.’ There’s no accidents with me, not too many.”

The name of the energy bottleneck on the southern coast of Iran is linked to the medieval Kingdom of Hormuz, whose own name is theorized to come from a pronunciation of the Zoroastrian God of light Ahura Mazda.

The long-gone emirate, which became a vassal of the Portuguese maritime empire in the 1500s, controlled Hormuz Island, a salt dome smaller than Manhattan, past which about a fifth of global oil exports flowed before the war brought trade to a virtual halt

The renaming concept gained traction by unlikely means — after an image of an apparently phony Truth Social post purportedly authored by the president showed a map of the strait with the new name.

“President Trump just posted this picture renaming the Strait of Hormuz the ‘Strait of America.’ Let’s make it happen!” pro-Trump influencer Benny Johnson, who faced repeated plagiarism allegations in his former journalistic career, posted on Facebook on March 16.

That doctored map does not appear to have actually been posted by Trump on any of his main social media platforms this month — but Johnson’s post nonetheless raked in 5,200 mostly supportive comments from people who believed it was real, along with 40,000 “likes” and nearly 3,000 shares.

A White House official said that the rebrand is “not real… for now!”

A second White House official more tepidly called it an “interesting idea” not under consideration “at this time.”

The renaming would not be unprecedented — after Trump last year forced an official redesignation of the Gulf of Mexico, which now is known as the Gulf of America.

The president and his supporters similarly emblazoned his name onto the facade of the US Institute of Peace in Washington and onto its prestigious performing-arts neighbor, the freshly dubbed Trump-Kennedy Center along the Potomac River.

The latest consideration received mixed reviews among Trump’s supporters.

“This whole naming thing is getting as tiresome and tacky as the gold in the Oval Office,” said a former Trump administration official. “It’s only tarnishing his legacy and hurting the party before the midterms.”

‘Benefit of the world’

The senior administration official said that Trump is hell-bent on opening the strait as its closure is causing a more than 50% jump in oil prices.

“We’re actually doing this for the benefit of the world,” the official said.

While the US continues to pursue diplomacy with Iran, so far discussions have amounted to “having talks about having talks,” a source familiar with mediation efforts said Friday.

Trump has spent the last two weeks attempting to strong-arm US allies from NATO to East Asia to participate in a grand flotilla that would uncork the strait through steer volume — only to rail against those who balked.

The president has deployed thousands of US Marines, sailors and Army parachute specialists to the region as a contingency in case force is needed. Options include landing on islands in the strait as well as possible action on the more distant Kharg Island, the loading site of 90% of Iran’s oil exports.

Such a mission would be the first land assault by US forces since America and Israel launched the war on Feb. 28 to end Tehran’s nuclear program and reduce its military might.

The president has sought to avoid a risky land operation by threatening to bomb Iran’s electricity plants if the strait isn’t opened by April 6.

Trump initially said that the war would last “four weeks or so” — a timetable that runs out this weekend — and Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly told G7 leaders Friday it may last another two to four weeks.

“The problem is there’s not any good options,” a different administration official told The Post.

“There’s also clearly a lot of finger-pointing starting behind the scenes. People are pointing fingers at [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu, but I think increasingly they’re going to point it at people at the Pentagon,” this official said.

“The Pentagon knew some things were going to happen, like with Hormuz, but they weren’t prepared to immediately deter and act on them.”

Iranians this week responded to a 15-point US peace proposal with its own conditions: an end to the war, reparations for what’s been destroyed and recognition of Iran’s ownership of the strait.

“It’s the last arrow in the Iran regime’s quiver in its ability to affect the global economy,” retired colonel and former US diplomat Joel Rayburn told The Post.

While America isn’t directly dependent on the strait for fuel, which mostly goes to Asia and Europe, the closure has impacted global energy and transportation costs while sapping income for Arab allies.

“If Iran keeps control of the strait it will triumph it as a victory and allow them to retain its influence,” Rayburn said.

“[Trump] can’t leave them with the means to disrupt the global economy — they’ve shown they will use it.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Man charged in 'particularly heinous' killing of DC resident found bound and set on fire in ritzy area: police

Man Arrested for Gruesome Murder of DC Resident: Victim Found Bound and Burned in Upscale Neighborhood

A man has been apprehended in connection with the murder of Syed…
Judge says Penn must turn over information about Jewish employees in US discrimination probe

Federal Judge Orders Penn to Release Data on Jewish Employees Amid Discrimination Investigation

A federal judge has mandated that the University of Pennsylvania provide records…
Praise be! The cast of 'The Testaments' reunite for the show's Hollywood premiere

Exciting Reunion: ‘The Testaments’ Cast Gathers for Star-Studded Hollywood Premiere

Hollywood unfurled the plum-colored carpet to celebrate the debut of “The Testaments.”…
Bolivia's clown union protests government decree that threatens their livelihood

Bolivian Clowns Rally Against New Government Policy Jeopardizing Their Income

Clowns are taking a stand in Bolivia, and it’s no laughing matter.…
Florida Supreme Court keeps ex-cop's execution on hold after DNA test fails to give a clear answer

Florida Supreme Court Maintains Execution Suspension for Former Officer Following Inconclusive DNA Test Results

The execution of a former police officer, previously convicted of the murder…
Luigi Mangione federal trial delayed until October in death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson

Luigi Mangione’s Federal Trial Postponed: October Date Set in UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s Death Case

LOWER MANHATTAN — In a recent decision, a federal judge in New…
NYC man sentenced to at least 20 years behind bars for gunning down LA rapper in June 2022 pharmacy robbery

NYC Man Faces 20+ Year Sentence for Fatal Shooting of LA Rapper in Pharmacy Heist

In a courtroom filled with tension and raw emotion, a Bronx man…
Fresno family awarded $57M after drunk driver killed doctoral student

Fresno Family Secures $57 Million Settlement Following Tragic Loss of Doctoral Student to Drunk Driving Incident

A heart-wrenching chapter has come to a close for the family of…
Doctor’s wife testifies he beat her with rock, tried to force her toward cliff edge during hike

Son of Hawaii Doctor Reveals Father’s Shocking Cliffside Confession in Courtroom Drama

Police bodycam shows bloodied wife after alleged trail attack Jurors were presented…
Teen takeover Chicago video: Girl arrested, cars vandalized during Hyde Park takeover; Police Supt. Larry Snelling weighs in

Chaos in Chicago: Teen Takeover in Hyde Park Leads to Arrests and Vandalism – Police Chief Snelling Responds

On Monday evening, Chicago’s Hyde Park witnessed another significant gathering of teenagers,…
Two-day-old boy killed after getting circumcised without anesthetic, doctor charged

Tragic Circumcision Without Anesthetic: Two-Day-Old Boy’s Death Leads to Doctor’s Charges

A tragic error has led to criminal charges for a doctor involved…
Disgraced human rights boss shares cryptic post after arrest

Former Human Rights Leader Posts Enigmatic Message Following Recent Arrest

Sheryl Davis, the former head of San Francisco’s Human Rights Commission, has…