Trump Suggests US Will Control Strait of Hormuz and Charge Protection Fees

Donald Trump declared Monday intentions to assert direct U.S. control over the Strait of Hormuz, outlining a proposal to monetize the critical Middle Eastern maritime chokepoint through protection fees.

The U.S. president stated Washington intends to act as the supreme guardian of the strategic waterway and will extract financial compensation for maintaining its security.

"We guarded the Strait for 50 years, and we never got paid for it. We guarded it for nothing, but now we will make money," Trump said in an interview with Fox.

Trump: ‘Strait is Open’

Later on Monday, Trump declared that the Strait of Hormuz was open and would remain open.

In a post on Truth Social, he noted that the U.S. would reinstate the blockade on Iranian ships and customers in the Strait.

Under the proposed strategy, the U.S. will operate as the self-designated “guardian of the Hormuz Strait” to secure international shipping lanes.

“But as such,” Trump said, “and as a matter of fairness, (U.S.) will be reimbursed, at the rate of 20% on all cargo shipped, for any and all costs necessary to do the job of providing safety and security to this very volatile section of the World.”

Trump asserted that the U.S. has historically provided regional security without receiving financial dividends.

"We guarded the strait for 50 years, and we never got paid for it. We guarded it for nothing, but now we will make money," he stated.

Tehran on the Defensive

Framing the current geopolitical landscape, Trump asserted that the Iranian government is facing severe pressure and imminent collapse.

Characterizing the nation's leadership, he noted, "They are a bad group of people, let me tell you that. I don't say that often. Right now, they are getting their ass kicked."

He dismissed any possibility of a resurgence from Tehran, claiming the U.S. has the country entirely on the defensive and continuously on the run.

According to Trump, Iran is grappling with extreme economic destabilization, citing an inflation rate of 350 percent, up dramatically from just 5 percent six months prior.

Nuclear Ambitions and Leadership

Turning to proliferation concerns, the former president claimed Tehran was merely minutes away from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

He laid responsibility for Iranian regional empowerment squarely on his political rivals, arguing that policies enacted by Barack Obama and Joe Biden significantly strengthened the adversary.

Trump highlighted his administration's targeted killing of Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, briefly misidentifying the general as Khomeini before correcting himself.

Assessing the current state of Iranian command, he stated that previous leadership elements have been eliminated and subsequent generations are heavily neutralized.

Executive Hazards

Transitioning to domestic political violence, Trump reflected on the inherent dangers of the U.S. presidency.

He cited statistics claiming 5.2 percent of commanders-in-chief are killed and 8.5 percent face gunfire during their tenure.

Recalling his own survival following the shooting incident in Butler, Pennsylvania, on the campaign trail, Trump stated: "God was with me."