Trump Declares Strait of Hormuz US Territory Amid Iran Conflict

President Donald Trump declared the Strait of Hormuz to be US territory using an AI-generated map, asserting total control over the waterway despite Iranian vows to keep it shut until the U.S. lifts oil sanctions and naval blockades. This escalation follows a secret operation last month in which security officials smuggled Trump out of Turkey inside a catering container on an Air Force C-32A to thwart a suspected Iranian assassination attempt, while staff and press served as decoys on a separate flight to England.

The conflict, characterized by U.S. air attacks and economic pressure, has strained military readiness. Reports indicate the USS Abraham Lincoln is suffering from severe deterioration, including food shortages and hygiene failures, after nine months at sea. U.S. Senators Dick Blumenthal and Jon Ossoff have criticized the administration for a lack of strategy, while Mohammad Reza Naqdi of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated Iran intends to prolong the war until the end of Trump's term to achieve deterrence.

At a campaign rally in Garden City, New York, Trump defended the six-month intervention as a necessary journey to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, though he admitted the conflict caused higher gasoline prices. While he previously claimed the U.S. had denied Iran a nuclear weapon, reports suggest he may be prepared to end the war without a formal nuclear agreement. Domestically, a Reuters/Ipsos poll shows Trump's approval rating has fallen to 33%, with 80% of Americans fearing a prolonged conflict.