U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked fresh controversy after resharing a social media post that referred to the Strait of Hormuz as the “Strait of Trump.”
The post, shared on Truth Social on Wednesday, included a map of the strategic waterway with the altered name clearly displayed, although there is no evidence of any official move to rename it.
The development has attracted attention because of the strait’s crucial role in global energy supply chains and its geopolitical sensitivity, particularly in relations between the United States and Iran.
The Strait of Hormuz links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and is regarded as one of the world’s most important oil transit routes, with a significant portion of global crude and petroleum products passing through it daily.
Trump’s action comes amid renewed tensions between Washington and Tehran, with the waterway frequently featuring in disputes over sanctions, oil exports, navigation rights and nuclear negotiations.
The U.S. president had earlier hinted at the possibility of referring to the waterway differently, a comment widely viewed as provocative rather than an official policy position.
International waterways are governed by established geographic and diplomatic conventions, meaning any unilateral renaming would remain largely symbolic and unlikely to gain global recognition.
Oil markets reacted to the development, with prices rising on Thursday as traders assessed potential risks to supply routes and ongoing uncertainty surrounding U.S.-Iran nuclear talks.