Trump States U.S. Will Retain Control of Strait of Hormuz
A presidential declaration of intent to operate a critical global shipping chokepoint raises immediate questions about legal authority, military posture, and diplomatic consequences that no public...
President Donald Trump stated publicly on or around July 13, 2026, that the United States would "keep the Strait" of Hormuz and "probably run it," according to a Bloomberg News report by correspondent Tyler Kendall. The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is the passage through which approximately 20 percent of global oil supply transits, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration's published data on chokepoints.
The Bloomberg report indicated that the United States and Iran had exchanged escalating military actions in the period leading up to the statement. Both governments have issued conflicting public statements regarding whether the Strait remains open to commercial shipping, according to the same Bloomberg report. No joint communiqué, ceasefire agreement, or formal diplomatic notice has been publicly released as of this writing.
No executive order, military authorization request to Congress, or War Powers Resolution notification has been identified in the public record as of July 13, 2026, that would formally codify the president's stated intent to operate the Strait. Under 50 U.S.C. § 1541–1548, the War Powers Resolution requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of introducing U.S. armed forces into hostilities or situations where hostilities are imminent. Whether such a notification has been submitted to congressional leadership is not confirmed in available public records.
The White House has not released a written statement, fact sheet, or press briefing transcript elaborating on the legal or operational framework for the president's assertion, as of the time of publication. The Department of Defense and the U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the region, have not issued public orders or operational guidance documents that are available in open sources.
What remains unknown: whether a War Powers Resolution notification has been transmitted to Congress; what specific military assets are involved; whether the State Department has communicated a formal diplomatic position to Iran or regional partners; and what legal authority the administration is invoking. The documents that would answer these questions are a War Powers notification filed with the Speaker of the House and Senate President pro tempore, any executive order published in the Federal Register, and Defense Department operational orders if declassified.