WASHINGTON (Rajeev Sharma): President Donald Trump has suggested giving the Strait of Hormuz a new name: “Trump Strait,” linking the proposal to his claim that the United States now controls the strategically important waterway.
In a post on Truth Social on September 2, Trump asked whether the historic maritime passage should be renamed, adding that the new name would make it “hotter” than ever. The comment was accompanied by the broader claim that the waterway was under U.S. control.
The proposal comes as fighting between the United States and Iran continues to center heavily on the Gulf region. The Strait of Hormuz remains a major international shipping route and a critical passage for global energy supplies. Recent military activity and disruptions around the waterway have heightened concerns about shipping and oil markets.
The White House subsequently reinforced the idea by sharing a map that labeled the waterway “Trump Strait,” describing the proposed name as having “a nice ring to it.”
However, Trump’s suggestion does not mean the international waterway has officially been renamed. The strait’s traditional name remains Strait of Hormuz, and its status is politically contested amid the ongoing conflict. Reports have also noted that Iran disputes Washington’s claims of control over the passage.
The proposal follows several other controversial geographic naming initiatives associated with Trump’s administration. In recent months, the administration has promoted alternative names for major geographic features, including “Gulf of America” for the Gulf of Mexico and “Lake America” for Lake Ontario. Those changes have not been universally recognized outside the United States.
For now, “Trump Strait” remains a political proposal rather than an internationally accepted geographic name. The remark has nevertheless drawn attention because it comes at a particularly tense moment for the region, with the Strait of Hormuz at the center of a wider confrontation involving military operations, commercial shipping and global energy security.
