WASHINGTON — President Trump said Friday that the US could “easily” take the Strait of Hormuz and “make a fortune” if it assumed control over oil exports in the Persian Gulf.
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“With a little more time, we can easily OPEN THE HORMUZ STRAIT, TAKE THE OIL, & MAKE A FORTUNE. IT WOULD BE A ‘GUSHER’ FOR THE WORLD??? President DONALD J. TRUMP,” he posted on his Truth Social.
But the president had earlier this week called on US allies like the UK to “step up” in helping to reopen the strait, through which at least one-fifth of the world’s seaborne oil passes every year.
President Trump said Friday that the US could “easily” take the Strait of Hormuz and “make a fortune” if it assumed control over oil exports in the Persian Gulf. AFP via Getty Images “With a little more time, we can easily OPEN THE HORMUZ STRAIT, TAKE THE OIL, & MAKE A FORTUNE. IT WOULD BE A ‘GUSHER’ FOR THE WORLD???” the president posted on his Truth Social. MediaPunch / BACKGRID “The countries of the world that do receive oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage,” Trump said. “We will be helpful, but they should take the lead in protecting the oil that they so desperately depend on.”
“I have a suggestion. Number one, buy oil from the United States of America. We have plenty. We have so much. And number two, build up some delayed courage … go to the strait and just take it.”
The president has weighed a military operation to seize Kharg Island in the strait, a key hub of Iran’s oil exports.
If the strait remains closed, Trump had also threatened to bomb Iran “back to the Stone Ages.”
The Trump administration assumed control of Venezuela’s oil exports after the successful capture and extradition of its dictator Nicolas Maduro in January.
