Trump floats renaming Strait of Hormuz as 'Trump Strait' amid Iran clashes

US President Donald Trump has suggested renaming the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz as the "Trump Strait," a proposal he later appeared to dismiss as unserious. The suggestion came amid ongoing military clashes between US forces and Iran in the region.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote that with the waterway under US control, it should perhaps be renamed, adding that like America itself, it would be "hotter" than ever before. The White House later amplified the idea on social media, sharing a map of the Gulf with the suggested name and the caption, "It's got a nice ring to it."

When asked by reporters in the Oval Office whether he was serious, Trump chuckled and said the idea was "just thrown out there." However, the president has a track record of floating name changes in jest before following through. Last week, he signed an order renaming Lake Ontario as "Lake America" amid a trade dispute with Canada, just days after raising the idea. He also renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" in January 2025.

The latest suggestion comes as Trump insists the US has full control of the crucial waterway, through which a fifth of the world's oil passes. Iran has effectively shut down the choke point in retaliation for the war that began in late February. Fighting has flared again after weeks of relative calm, with US forces launching fresh strikes near the strait on Tuesday in response to what Trump described as new Iranian minelaying efforts.

Iran has said one of the strikes killed four people at a wedding, branding it a "war crime," and has launched retaliatory attacks on US bases in several countries. Trump said the US is prepared to launch further attacks but indicated any renewed campaign would not last "too long."

At home, the conflict has contributed to a steep rise in fuel costs, and the president's Republican Party faces the prospect of losing ground in the upcoming midterm elections.