US President Donald Trump has suggested renaming the Strait of Hormuz as the “Trump Strait” despite ongoing clashes with Iran in the strategic waterway.
Trump made the proposal on Truth Social while claiming that the United States had full control of the crucial maritime route.
“Now that we have it under US control, should we change the name Hormuz Strait to TRUMP STRAIT?” Trump wrote.
The White House later shared a map of the Gulf featuring the proposed name and added that it had “a nice ring to it.”
Trump later downplays renaming idea
Trump has repeatedly discussed claiming sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. He recently shared a map depicting the waterway as a potential new US territory.
However, Trump later appeared to dismiss the renaming proposal as a joke.
“It was just thrown out there,” Trump said with a chuckle when an AFP reporter asked whether he seriously intended to rename the strait.
Still, several previous suggestions that Trump initially presented humorously later became official US policy.
Last week, Trump signed an order renaming Lake Ontario as “Lake America” during tensions with Canada.
He also renamed the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America” shortly after returning to the White House in January 2025.
Iran conflict continues to escalate
Despite the naming controversy, fighting between the United States and Iran remains serious.
US forces launched fresh strikes near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday after Trump accused Iran of attempting new mine-laying operations.
Iran said a US strike killed four people at a wedding and described the attack as a war crime.
Tehran then launched retaliatory strikes against US bases in Jordan, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and Iraq.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a major global energy chokepoint. Around one-fifth of the world’s oil passes through the waterway.
Trump said the United States was prepared to launch another attack against Iran, although he indicated the renewed campaign would not continue for long.
