President Trump claimed Wednesday that the United States secretly moved more than 100 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, a dramatic assertion he made on Truth Social as inflation and oil prices climb amid ongoing military strikes against Iran.
In a post, Trump said he “directed” the military to “execute a secret mission to support Oil Tankers and other Commercial Ships” through the strategic waterway. He declared the effort a success, writing, “I am pleased to announce that this effort has resulted in more than 100 MILLION Barrels of Oil making its way through the Strait, and into the Open Market. More than 200 Commercial Ships have safely traveled through the Strait.”
The president framed the operation as a demonstration of U.S. dominance, adding, “This wildly successful effort is because the UNITED STATES of AMERICA CONTROLS the Strait of Hormuz — NOT Iran. Their military is defeated, and their economy is lost. It’s over for Iran.” The remarks come as the administration continues to escalate military action against Tehran, with Trump warning of additional strikes and the fragile ceasefire hanging in the balance.
Earlier in the day, Trump made similar claims in the Oval Office, where he expressed satisfaction with the latest inflation numbers. The consumer price index rose to 4.2 percent over the past 12 months, a figure that the president said he “loves.” He argued the secret oil movement is keeping prices in check, stating, “We’ve been taking out millions of barrels of oil. Nobody knows it.” He described moving 22 ships at night, asserting Iran could not detect them because “they don’t have any radar” after U.S. strikes destroyed it. “That’s why oil is $85 dollars a barrel,” he said.
Trump and his administration have repeatedly promised that inflation and oil prices will drop once the war in Iran concludes. However, the U.S. launched new strikes on Tuesday evening, and the president indicated more are coming, leaving the ceasefire in doubt and negotiations stalled. The claim of a secret oil mission appears aimed at bolstering his economic narrative, even as critics point to rising costs and ongoing conflict.
The announcement drew immediate scrutiny, as no independent verification of the operation has been provided. Some analysts question whether moving such a volume of oil covertly is feasible, while others note that the Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint for global energy security. The president’s framing of U.S. control over the strait echoes his repeated warnings of more strikes on Iran amid retaliatory attacks that have escalated in recent weeks.
Trump’s focus on oil and inflation comes as internal GOP tensions surface. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has publicly turned on Trump over inflation, echoing criticisms once leveled at the Biden administration. Meanwhile, the president’s celebration of the May inflation surge has drawn bipartisan pushback, with Democrats and some Republicans questioning the wisdom of touting rising consumer prices during a war.
The secret mission claim also raises questions about the administration’s broader strategy in the Middle East. With the U.S. military engaged in strikes and the president vowing to maintain control of the strait, the region remains volatile. Oil markets have reacted cautiously, with prices hovering around $85 per barrel, a level Trump now defends as a sign of success, though it represents a significant increase from pre-conflict levels.
