What Happened
On Friday, August 14, 2026, President Donald Trump made a public statement during a New York crime‑focused speech and later during remarks on Long Island, New York, in which he said he would soon declare the Strait of Hormuz a "territory of the United States."
The Washington Times reported that Trump framed the potential claim as justified by the performance of a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports and shipping, arguing that higher gasoline prices for Americans were a worthwhile cost to keep nuclear weapons out of Iran’s hands.
The Hill’s coverage echoed the quote, noting that Trump made the claim despite the fact that Oman and Iran share jurisdiction over the waterway under international law.
Trump also said, "So, for you to pay a tiny little bit more for your gasoline — Just remember, you’re doing it so that a very evil country cannot have … a nuclear weapon," linking domestic fuel costs to the strategic objective of preventing Iranian nuclear proliferation.
The remarks came amid an ongoing conflict that began on February 28, 2026, when Trump decided to join forces with Israel and conduct bombing strikes against Iran.
What the Evidence Establishes
The sources establish that Trump explicitly stated his intention to declare the Strait of Hormuz a U.S. territory on two occasions on August 14, 2026, citing a U.S. naval blockade as the basis for his claim.
Both the Washington Times and The Hill articles quote Trump verbatim: "Pretty soon, I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States."
The Washington Times article includes Trump’s broader justification: the blockade’s effect on Iranian shipping and the asserted link between higher U.S. gasoline prices and the goal of denying Iran a nuclear weapon.
According to AAA data cited in the Washington Times piece, the national average gasoline price was $4.08 per gallon on Friday, August 13, 2026, unchanged from the prior day but representing a 37% increase since the conflict began on February 28, 2026.
AAA also noted that while gasoline demand was down, crude oil prices were keeping pump prices higher than normal for the season, and that the August 2026 average was the highest on record for that month.
The Hill article confirms that Oman and Iran share jurisdiction of the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the international legal context that contradicts a unilateral U.S. territorial declaration.
Where the Accounts Conflict
The two source articles do not contain direct contradictions regarding Trump’s statement; both report the same quote and the same context of a New York and Long Island appearance on August 14, 2026.
However, the Washington Times provides more detail about the economic impact, including the specific AAA‑reported gasoline price of $4.08 per gallon, the 37% year‑over‑year increase, and the observation that August 2026 marked the highest national gasoline average on record for the month.
The Hill article omits these specific AAA figures and the broader commentary on gasoline demand and crude oil prices, focusing instead on the legal reality that Oman and Iran share jurisdiction of the waterway.
Thus, while the core claim of Trump’s intention is consistent across sources, the Washington Times offers a richer economic narrative that the Hill piece does not repeat, creating a minor disparity in the depth of contextual information presented.
No factual disagreement exists over the date, location, or the exact wording of Trump’s remark; the divergence lies solely in the extent of supplementary economic data included.
Context and Stakes
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global oil transit, with approximately one‑third of the world’s liquefied natural gas and nearly 20% of oil traded by sea passing through the waterway, according to historical shipping data.
Control of the strait has been a focal point of the U.S.–Iran conflict that escalated after Trump’s February 28, 2026 decision to join Israel in bombing Iran, a move aimed at thwarting Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
Iran has repeatedly asserted that vessels may transit the strait only with its authorization, a position backed by Oman, which shares sovereignty over the passage under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The U.S. naval blockade referenced by Trump seeks to limit Iranian oil exports, contributing to the observed rise in global crude prices and, consequently, higher domestic gasoline prices.
Higher fuel costs affect American consumers and businesses, creating domestic political pressure; Trump’s framing attempts to justify this pain as necessary for national security.
If the U.S. were to pursue a formal territorial claim, it would likely trigger diplomatic protests from Oman and Iran, potentially invoke UNCLOS dispute mechanisms, and risk escalating military confrontations in the strait.
What to Watch Next
Within the next 72 hours, monitor whether the Trump administration issues any formal executive order, presidential memorandum, or State Department directive referencing the Strait of Hormuz as U.S. territory, which would transform rhetoric into policy action.
Over the following two weeks, watch for Iranian naval responses, such as increased patrol vessel deployments in the strait or public statements from Iranian officials rejecting any U.S. claim and asserting their right to regulate passage.
In the medium term (30‑60 days), track weekly gasoline price averages reported by AAA; if the national average remains above $4.25 per gallon, it would suggest the blockade’s economic impact is persisting, potentially reinforcing Trump’s narrative.
Additionally, observe any diplomatic initiatives from Oman or Gulf Cooperation Council states seeking to mediate or reaffirm the shared jurisdiction status of the waterway through international forums.
Finally, keep an eye on Congressional reactions, particularly any hearings or legislation introduced concerning the president’s authority to make territorial claims over international waterways without legislative approval.
Bottom Line
President Trump’s August 14, 2026 remarks signal a willingness to escalate the Iran conflict into a territorial dispute over the Strait of Hormuz, framing higher domestic gasoline prices as an acceptable cost to prevent Iranian nuclear proliferation.
The evidence confirms the statement’s wording and context but does not provide a legal mechanism for the U.S. to unilaterally alter the strait’s status, which remains jointly held by Oman and Iran under international law.
While the blockade has contributed to observable increases in crude and gasoline prices, the actual realization of a territorial claim would likely provoke diplomatic pushback, potential legal challenges under UNCLOS, and heightened military risks in a vital global energy corridor.
Stakeholders should watch for any concrete policy steps from the administration, Iranian and Omani responses, and trends in fuel prices to assess whether the rhetoric translates into tangible strategic shifts.
DECLASSIFIED SOURCE: Al Jazeera - News (via Real-time Signal Upgrade)
claiming the Strait of Hormuz as US territory is a massive overreach that would probably trigger the exact conflict it claims to prevent. why would we think this actually stops a nuclear program instead of just giving...
claiming sovereignty over a choke point based on a naval blockade ignores the legal precedent of UNCLOS and would likely trigger immediate retaliation from every major shipping conglomerate.
if the goal is preventing nuclear proliferation, making the strait a territory might actually trigger the exact blockade-driven price spikes he's trying to avoid.
The timing of this announcement during a speech on Long Island is too convenient for the upcoming energy market fluctuations. If he actually moves to declare the Strait a U.S. territory, watch how quickly the private...
people are crying about gas prices when the blockade is actually working. you can't win a war with empty tanks.
declaring it a territory doesn't bypass the UNCLOS framework that governs transit passage in international straits, so this is more about maritime enforcement than actual sovereignty.