Trump made the suggestion on his Truth Social platform while claiming that the United States had full control of the strategic waterway, where fighting between US and Iranian forces has intensified.
“Now that we have it under US control, should we change the name Hormuz Strait to TRUMP STRAIT??? Like America itself, it would be ‘hotter’ than ever before!” Trump wrote.
The White House later shared a map of the Gulf on social media using Trump’s proposed name, adding: “It’s got a nice ring to it.”
Trump has repeatedly threatened in recent weeks to claim sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. He has also shared a map depicting the waterway as a “new US territory”.
However, when asked by an AFP reporter in the Oval Office whether he was serious about renaming the strait, Trump laughed and said: “It was just thrown out there.”
Some of Trump’s previous proposals that were initially presented humorously have later been implemented.
Last week, Trump signed an order renaming Lake Ontario as “Lake America” amid a trade dispute with Canada, after apparently first raising the idea jokingly.
Trump’s renaming spree
Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America” on his first day back in the White House in January 2025. Mexico and Canada have not recognised the new name.
He has also backed other changes involving his name, including the renaming of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington.
Meanwhile, the US Treasury issued $1 coins featuring Trump’s image on Wednesday as part of events marking the 250th anniversary of US independence.
The dispute over the Strait of Hormuz comes as the US-Iran conflict continues more than six months after the initial US-Israeli assault.
Fighting intensified again this week after several weeks of relative calm, with US forces launching fresh strikes near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday in response to what Trump described as renewed Iranian efforts to lay mines.
Iran said one of the US strikes killed four people at a wedding and described the incident as a “war crime”. Tehran subsequently launched retaliatory attacks targeting US bases in Jordan, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and Iraq.
The conflict has also pushed up fuel prices in the United States, creating political pressure on the Trump administration ahead of November’s congressional midterm elections.
Iran has effectively restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy chokepoint through which around one-fifth of the world’s oil passes.
Trump said on Wednesday that the United States remained prepared to launch further attacks against Iran, although he suggested the renewed military campaign would not continue for “too long”.
“It was a very heavy attack last night, and we’re prepared to do another one any time we want,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
