Trump posts map declaring Strait of Hormuz 'new US territory'

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday posted a map on his Truth Social platform showing the Strait of Hormuz as "NEW U.S. Territory", renewing his threat to claim sovereignty over the vital waterway. In a subsequent post, Trump said there were "no talks or discussions ongoing, or scheduled, with Iran", while insisting the US naval blockade remained fully in force. He also claimed the Strait of Hormuz was "open and operational" and that all sea mines had been removed or destroyed. Trump first raised the idea of a US takeover on Friday, saying in a jovial-sounding tone that he would soon declare the strait US territory, prompting Iran to retort that the waterway "will remain Iranian". Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump again said he liked the idea of the Strait of Hormuz belonging to the United States, while claiming the waterway was open and under US control through the naval blockade. He also said he was not seeking to extend the memorandum of understanding with Iran, arguing that Tehran was unwilling to reach an agreement on terms he considered necessary. Trump revisited the threat after telling an audience in New York on Friday: "When we finish defeating Iran, we will declare the Strait of Hormuz territory belonging to the United States." This is not the first time Trump, faced with a foreign policy obstacle, has threatened to annex foreign territory. Since returning to power in 2025, he has threatened to make Canada the 51st US state, seize Greenland and has even alluded to taking control of the Gaza Strip, without following through on any of these threats. Before the Iran war erupted on February 28, the Strait of Hormuz was an open, international waterway.