President Trump's suggestion that the United States should claim the Strait of Hormuz as its own territory drew an immediate rebuke from Tehran on Friday, with Iran's deputy foreign minister insisting the waterway remains under Iranian control.
In a post on the social platform X, Kazem Gharibabadi wrote: "This strait will only be closed and opened under Iran's command, and as long as you do not accept the reality of defeat and cease your fanciful delusions, Iran will continue to enforce the blockade." The statement came hours after Trump floated the idea of making the strait a U.S. territory, a notion that ignores the shared jurisdiction that Oman and Iran hold over the strategic passage.
Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority also weighed in, declaring that "the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked and will not be reopened until Iran's conditions are accepted." The comments escalate a long-running standoff over the world's most critical oil chokepoint, through which roughly a fifth of global petroleum passes daily.
Trump's remarks, which were first reported earlier in the week, have drawn criticism from international law experts who note that unilateral annexation of a waterway would violate maritime conventions. The president has not detailed how he would enforce such a claim, but his administration has previously threatened military action to keep the strait open.
Meanwhile, a different kind of influence is growing in Washington: Katie Miller's podcast has become a favored outlet for Trump administration figures looking to reach conservative women. Miller, who is married to senior White House adviser Stephen Miller, launched the show in 2025 and has quickly built a loyal following, with thousands of subscribers tuning in for interviews with cabinet secretaries and other key insiders.
The podcast's rise reflects a broader trend of MAGA-aligned media carving out niche audiences, and Miller's access has made it a go-to platform for officials seeking to bypass traditional press. Recent episodes have featured top defense and energy officials discussing policy priorities, often with a friendly tone that contrasts with mainstream news interviews.
For Republicans under Trump, the show offers a direct line to the administration's inner circle, and its growing subscriber base signals that such direct-to-audience formats are reshaping political communication. As the Strait of Hormuz tension simmers, the podcast's role in amplifying the administration's message is likely to expand.
The standoff over the strait remains unresolved, with no clear diplomatic path forward. Iran's latest statements suggest it will not back down, while Trump's territorial claim has yet to be backed by any formal policy proposal. Analysts warn that any attempt to enforce the claim could trigger a broader conflict in the region.
Follow live updates below for the latest on both the Hormuz crisis and the political media landscape.
