U.S. President Donald Trump has shared a map on social media labeling the Strait of Hormuz as “new U.S. territory,” drawing widespread attention as tensions over the strategic waterway continue.
The image, posted on Trump’s official social media account, depicts the narrow shipping corridor with the label “new U.S. territory,” but does not include any official announcement or policy statement indicating that the United States intends to claim sovereignty over the strait.
The post comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the Gulf following recent negotiations over shipping access and transit fees through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes.
The Strait of Hormuz, bordered by Iran and Oman, is an international waterway through which a significant share of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas exports passes each day. Under international law, no country has unilateral sovereignty over the entire strait.
The White House had not immediately issued an official statement explaining the purpose or meaning of the post. It also remains unclear whether the map was intended as a political message, a symbolic statement or a reference to ongoing U.S. security operations in the region.
The post quickly generated strong reactions online, with supporters and critics offering differing interpretations. Analysts cautioned that social media posts by political leaders do not, by themselves, constitute official changes in U.S. foreign policy or international legal status.
Neither Iran nor Oman immediately commented on the image. Both countries have previously emphasized their roles in safeguarding navigation through the Strait of Hormuz while rejecting any suggestion of foreign control over the waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz remains central to global energy security, making developments involving the passage particularly sensitive for international markets and regional stability. Any official policy affecting the waterway would likely have significant diplomatic and economic implications.
As of now, there has been no formal U.S. government declaration claiming the Strait of Hormuz as American territory, and the social media post has not been accompanied by any executive order, treaty or legal action.
