Trump Posts Map Labeling Strait of Hormuz as “New U.S. Territory”

Trump shares a flag-styled graphic marking the Persian Gulf chokepoint between Iran and the Gulf of Oman, one of the world's most critical oil transit routes.

First Published: September 6, 2026, 7:17 PM ET

WASHINGTON D.C. — Donald J. Trump posted a flag-styled map on Truth Social labeling the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow chokepoint linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, as “New U.S. Territory.” The graphic marks the waterway between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. Trump offered no accompanying explanation.

Here is the full post on truthsocial: “NEW U.S.Territory Persian Gulf Iran Gulf of Oman STRAIT OF HORMUZ” on September 6, 2026 at 7:09 PM ET.

This is Trump’s 34th message released today, and the last post was 1 hour ago, and it is not part of a thread. On average, Trump produces 18 posts per day since his inauguration on January 20, 2025. The move fits a broader pattern in Trump’s recent messaging, with 80 of his 636 posts over the last 30 days classified as foreign policy posts.

The post carries no source, date, or verification for the “New U.S. Territory” claim. The image is a designed graphic that pairs a simplified regional map with red, white, and blue striped bars and a row of white stars styled to evoke the American flag. A dark navy circle and a pointer line highlight the narrow passage and connect it to the label at the bottom.

The Strait of Hormuz sits at the southeastern tip of the Persian Gulf and ranks among the world’s most critical chokepoints for oil transit, with around 20% of global oil trade passing through it daily according to ghasrangasht. The waterway is the only maritime outlet from the Persian Gulf into the Gulf of Oman, the Indian Ocean, and the rest of the world according to strausscenter. The Persian Gulf region produces nearly one third of the world’s oil and holds over half of the world’s crude oil reserves according to strausscenter.

President Donald J. Trump posted a graphic depicting a map of the Strait of Hormuz at WASHINGTON D.C.

The Persian Gulf borders Iran to the northeast and, to the southwest,Iraq,Kuwait,Saudi Arabia,Bahrain,Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman via the Strait of Hormuz according to ghasrangasht. Oman borders the strait and has long served as a mediator between Washington and Tehran according to National Public Radio. Both countries border the waterway, and their officials have discussed shared management of the strait, including possible fees collected from ships according to npr.

Gulf Arab states await a momentous decision in the Iran war as a deadline imposed by Trump to the Iranian leadership approaches according to agsi. The Trump administration has weighed a military campaign to retake the Strait of Hormuz from Tehran or negotiations to end the conflict, and both options present substantial risks to Gulf states according to agsi.Saudi Arabia has messaged that it wants de-escalation and an Iranian neighbor that does not permanently control the strait according to National Public Radio.

The region has historically been known as the Persian Gulf, named after the Persian Empire, present-day Iran according to strausscenter. The term “Persian Gulf” has appeared in official documents, maps, and academic references for over two thousand years, and the United Nations and most international organizations continue to endorse it as the official term according to ghasrangasht.

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Trump Posts Map Labeling Strait of Hormuz as “New U.S. Territory”