Former President Donald Trump said the United States “doesn’t need any help” when asked about securing the Strait of Hormuz, shifting responsibility onto other countries as tensions with Iran affected global energy markets. He called on NATO allies and China to take steps to ensure freedom of navigation in the strategic waterway rather than relying primarily on U.S. military action.
In public remarks, Trump framed the issue as one for broader international cooperation and signaled reluctance to commit additional American forces. He has also suggested the United States might withdraw from certain roles in the region — comments that have drawn concern from critics who warn such a posture could raise the risk of escalation or disrupt oil supplies.
The diplomatic and security pressure around the flare-up has produced departures inside the U.S. government. Officials, including the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, resigned citing disagreements over policy and the administration’s handling of the confrontation with Iran. Those resignations highlighted divisions among national security officials about how best to manage the crisis.
Trump’s remarks came alongside other foreign-policy headlines involving his public posture: he publicly accused the BBC of using “AI-generated” clips of him and announced a delay to a planned trip to China. His stance on the Strait of Hormuz represents a clear push for burden-sharing with allies and major powers at a moment when energy markets and geopolitical stakes are elevated.