It didn't take long for Donald Trump to turn his frustration into a public broadside. Writing on Truth Social, the US President argued that nations that offered the US "no help whatsoever" during the recent standoff over the Strait of Hormuz ought to pay up once the dust settles.
Calling the situation a "scam confligration" his own colorful, if oddly spelled, choice of words Trump made clear he believes the financial burden of keeping that critical oil route open has fallen disproportionately on American shoulders. His post read:
"Oil is flowing through the Hormuz Strait. The Countries of the World, which have been no help to us whatsoever, should, and will, reimburse the United States of America when this SCAM Confligration is all over. We are doing it much more for others, than we are for ourselves, and we have been for Generations!"
A Not-So-Subtle Jab at Britain
Although he stopped short of naming the UK directly, the timing and context make it hard to miss who he's referring to. Britain notably chose not to join the US military effort tied to the Strait blockade during the Iran crisis a decision that appears to have stuck with the President.
This isn't the first time he's aired his grievances publicly. During a recent two-day trip to Ireland, the 80-year-old leader used a press appearance at the Deerfield Residence in Dublin to vent about NATO's reluctance to back the US on this issue.
"Very disappointing in many ways, that NATO didn't want to help us with the Strait, even though we don't get any oil from the Strait we don't need it, we have a lot of oil, we have more oil than anybody, as you know," he told reporters and embassy staff.
He went on to point out that other countries rely far more heavily on that shipping corridor than the US does. "They get a lot out there, they get 50%, 60% of different countries. I said, 'Would you like to help us with the Strait?' No, we'd rather not get involved," Trump said, laughing as he recounted the exchange.
Part of a Bigger Pattern With NATO
This latest swipe fits into a much longer pattern of friction between Trump and the alliance. He's previously branded NATO members "cowards" and dismissed the organization as little more than a "paper tiger" language that has repeatedly strained relations between Washington and its European partners.
Door Still Open on Iran Talks
Despite the tough rhetoric, Trump signaled earlier the same day that he isn't closing the door on diplomacy with Iran. In another Truth Social post, he said he remains open to reviving negotiations, though he made clear that any final call on the matter rests with him alone.
He claimed Tehran is eager to strike a peace agreement "quickly and badly." That said, real progress has been hard to come by the US and Iran haven't held any substantive talks since agreeing to a memorandum of understanding on June 27. The ceasefire that followed didn't last long, falling apart in under a month.
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