US Navy will begin the blocking all ships from the Strait of Hormuz, announces President Trump.

[demmiblue]

US Navy will begin the blocking all ships from the Strait of Hormuz, announces President Trump.

— Steve Herman (@newsguy.bsky.social) 2026-04-12T13:06:04.949Z

“I have also instructed our Navy to seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas. We will also begin destroying the mines the Iranians laid in the Straits,” adds Trump.

— Steve Herman (@newsguy.bsky.social) 2026-04-12T13:07:55.143Z

Trump concludes a lengthy Truth Social post by warning that “at an appropriate moment, we are fully ‘LOCKED AND LOADED,’ and our Military will finish up the little that is left of Iran!”

— Steve Herman (@newsguy.bsky.social) 2026-04-12T13:13:51.646Z

[no_hypocrisy]

1. China might not like that.

Jes sayin’

[demmiblue]

14. Yeah, it's batshit crazy.

So, let’s game this out. A Chinese flagged tanker pays the toll and transits the strait. We interdict it? What if the tanker is escorted by a Chinese warship?

— Jeffrey Lewis (@armscontrolwonk.bsky.social) 2026-04-12T13:42:50.636Z

[Irish_Dem]

18. Trump wants countries to pay bribes TO HIM to sail the strait.

[Vinca]

31. Trump won't care if a boatload of US sailors is at the bottom of the strait in pieces.

[Amaryllis]

39. Here:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221166435
Bats are tired of this.

[Crowman2009]

75. Of course their are a couple workarounds to this.

Such as using Iran's gulf of Oman ports or a land route through central Asia.

[C_U_L8R]

2. We've reached the part where the mad despot declares war on everyone

This does not end well.

[murielm99]

11. He is declaring war on everyone.

"If I can't have it, no one can have it."

Anyone who uses the Strait, whether they do so for free, or after paying a toll, is subject to aggression.

[orangecrush]

36. Motherfucker has straight up lost his mind

[Ocelot II]

3. I thought blocking the Strait of Hormuz was a *bad* thing.

When did Piggy learn the word "interdict"?

[SheltieLover]

20. Never. He is uneducable.

Who wrote that?

[yellow dahlia]

58. Agreed, SL.

[enigmania]

47. I'd like to hear him try to pronouce it.

[yellow dahlia]

56. I think Cheung wrote it, possibly with an assist from Kegsbreath.

Someone used a thesaurus to show how smart they are.

[hatrack]

4. President Pampers is getting cranky . . .

There haven't been any new Stuff Blowing Up "briefings" for a few days, and he craves entertainment.

[Lovie777]

5. Another lie..........................

[Walleye]

6. He's making a declaration of war on his own. We don't count.

[Hope22]

37. The troops don't count either...

He wastes the lives of others so freely. That is the only free thing about him.

[Walleye]

42. He has no humanity

[Kahuna]

74. At this point, he's once again trying to manipulate NATO and

other countries into helping him out of this fu.

[Walleye]

86. And making plenty of stock speculation money on the side

[Prairie Gates]

7. "We don't even care if they block the Strait. It will open up naturally, In fact, we want to block it and we're the

ones blocking it. Yeah, that's the ticket. We're blocking it ourselves, not them."

[Renew Deal]

8. Once again, he is helping Iran implement their strategy

Also, ships should test the blockade. The US can’t board all those ships, especially in the Persian gulf. They Navy and the ships would all be sitting ducks.

[Johonny]

12. Yeah, literally blocking the strait even more effectively

And while Iran welcomes the worlds hatred, do we.

Thus is hilariously bad policy.

[underpants]

29. He's blocking the strait so they won't block the strait

Geebus 🙄

[Johnny2X2X]

40. He's punching himself in the face before Iran gets to.

Pure insanity.

[underpants]

52. Are we skipping over the "safe passage" part?

I hope he means they won’t be let through…I hope.

[Irish_Dem]

16. Trump is so easy for them to manipulate and play with.

[pfitz59]

9. He is blind to geography.

90 million people in a huge mountainous nation. Far from beaten.

[Captain Zero]

10. How many US Navy Ships will be sunk

Before Trump is run out of office.
I'm sure glad Barron hasn't joined the Navy. /s

[Ray Bruns]

66. Too many.

[muriel_volestrangler]

13. He's going to take control of any ships that Iran lets through and ... what?

Shoot the crew if they don't break their terms of employment (the crews have done nothing wrong at all)? Kidnap all the crews and replace them with loads of US Navy sailors he magicked up from somewhere, and steal the ships?

This is insane. This is 25th Amendment stuff. He could announce that he'd put sanctions on the ship owners who pay Iran; but this is just violent threats against people that all sides - until The Rapist lost his mind - agree are innocent.

It's piracy.

[underpants]

50. Are we skipping over the "safe passage" part?

I hope he means they won’t be let through…I hope.

[Irish_Dem]

15. The background noise you hear are all the US Navy admirals cussing up a storm.

[The Madcap]

17. Khomeini, eh?

I guess he is immortal.

I seriously hope that was a typo, or T**** really is living in the 70s.

[muriel_volestrangler]

21. Strictly, he's right in one way, since he said "Khomeini is dead"

it's just that it's not exactly breaking news, having happened in 1989. He's wrong that Khomeini is dead because of "their nuclear ambition".

[gab13by13]

22. Khomeini's son.

[VMA131Marine]

27. Ayatollah Khomeini was Iran's leader after the 1979 revolution

He’s been dead for decades.

[Bob_in_VA]

51. Wrong dad

The current leader is the son of Ayatollah Khamenei.

[obamanut2012]

61. Nope, incorrect

[MorbidButterflyTat]

93. Don't worry

Piggy didn't write that.

[newdeal2]

19. Republicans should answer for this

Trump has no strategy and no cards. He has embarrassed the United States once again and only the non-elite have to suffer.

[dalton99a]

23. Full text:

Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump

Iran promised to open the Strait of Hormuz, and they knowingly failed to do so. This caused anxiety, dislocation, and pain to many people and Countries throughout the World. They say they put mines in the water, even though all of their Navy, and most of their “mine droppers,” have been completely blown up. They may have done so, but what ship owner would want to take the chance? There is great dishonor and permanent harm to the reputation of Iran, and what’s left of their “Leaders,” but we are beyond all of that. As they promised, they better begin the process of getting this INTERNATIONAL WATERWAY OPEN AND FAST! Every Law in the book is being violated by them. I have been fully debriefed by Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, on the meeting that took place in Islamabad through the kind and very competent leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan. They are very extraordinary men, and continuously thank me for saving 30 to 50 million lives in what would have been a horrendous War with India. I always appreciate hearing that — The amount of Humanity spoken of is incomprehensible.

The meeting with Iran began early in the morning, and lasted throughout the night — Close to 20 hours. I could go into great detail, and talk about much that has been gotten but, there is only one thing that matters — IRAN IS UNWILLING TO GIVE UP ITS NUCLEAR AMBITIONS! In many ways, the points that were agreed to are better than us continuing our Military Operations to conclusion, but all of those points don’t matter compared to allowing Nuclear Power to be in the hands of such volatile, difficult, unpredictable people. My three Representatives, as all of this time went by, became, not surprisingly, very friendly and respectful of Iran’s Representatives, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, Abbas Araghchi, and Ali Bagheri, but that doesn’t matter because they were very unyielding as to the single most important issue and, as I have always said, right from the beginning, and many years ago, IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!

So, there you have it, the meeting went well, most points were agreed to, but the only point that really mattered, NUCLEAR, was not. Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz. At some point, we will reach an “ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO IN, ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO OUT” basis, but Iran has not allowed that to happen by merely saying, “There may be a mine out there somewhere,” that nobody knows about but them. THIS IS WORLD EXTORTION, and Leaders of Countries, especially the United States of America, will never be extorted. I have also instructed our Navy to seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas. We will also begin destroying the mines the Iranians laid in the Straits. Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL! Iran knows, better than anyone, how to END this situation which has already devastated their Country. Their Navy is gone, their Air Force is gone, their Anti Aircraft and Radar are useless, Khomeini, and most of their “Leaders,” are dead, all because of their Nuclear ambition. The Blockade will begin shortly. Other Countries will be involved with this Blockade. Iran will not be allowed to profit off this Illegal Act of EXTORTION. They want money and, more importantly, they want Nuclear. Additionally and, at an appropriate moment, we are fully “LOCKED AND LOADED,” and our Military will finish up the little that is left of Iran! President DONALD J. TRUMP

Apr 12, 2026, 7:53 AM

[gab13by13]

24. Any bets how the crude oil markets will react to this?

Will the markets protect Krasnov? I'm betting the not so invisible hand of the market will jump into action.

Krasnov did say after invading Iran, "Take The Oil."

[gulliver]

25. It's not a terrible move if it has been cleared diplomatically

It cuts the IRGC money flow off. I see the Islamic Republic as the Kenneth McElroy of the Earth. Some will take out the nutball bully; everyone else will look the other way.

It seems like stating the obvious, but the correct progressive and liberal position is to want the Islamic Republic gone. Those curs are bigots of the worst kind and a clear threat to innocent human life. As a liberal and lifelong Democrat myself, I can't see it any other way. It's straightforward. The moral thing to do is hold your nose, hold your breath, and hope the IRGC are sent to Hell. Would that it weren't so.

[VMA131Marine]

30. What is the U.S. Navy going to do with the ships it stops coming out of the Strait of Hormuz

Turn them around and make them go back?

Sink them?

Send them to the U.S. to offload their cargoes there (which would be piracy basically)? This could be dozens to hundreds of ships. It’s one thing to prevent ships going into the Strait but stopping and presumably seizing all the ships that come out is impractical at best.

[gulliver]

33. True.

That's why I'm saying and hoping that we have a Kenneth McElroy (notorious bully in Missouri who was killed by townspeople and the crime was never solved) situation. I.e., all the countries involved see themselves as better off with the IRGC out of the picture.

I think that peace talks demonstrated that the Islamic Republic insists on having nuclear weapons. So, if the goal was to prove that to some bystanders in the town, that goal was achieved.

[newdeal2]

44. I seem to recall a certain agreement reached about 10 years ago

Now who broke that again? Who bombed who during supposed negotiations?

[gulliver]

65. True.

Elections have consequences. We are where we are. Iran isn't exactly our only challenge either. Interesting times.

[Polybius]

68. I had never heard of Kenneth McElroy before you mentioned him, but I'm reading his Wiki page now

Fascinating and crazy at the same time. There's even a 1991 made for TV movie starring Brian Dennehy called In Broad Daylight. Now I need to see where I can watch it.

[Polybius]

83. I did some digging, and found out that it was only released on VHS

The good news is that it's on YouTube. Can't wait to watch this, here's the link if you or anyone else is interested. On a side note, Brian Dennehy was cast perfectly to play Kenneth McElroy.

[gulliver]

88. Thanks, I might watch it

I probably already saw it back in the day. Dennehy was great. First Blood...30 Rock even. Lots of things.

[Girard442]

78. We on DU feel (mostly) that the rightwing majority on SCOTUS is a threat to America.

That is very different from agreeing they should all be dismembered with bonesaws on live TV.

[BradBo]

26. Gas is gonna triple in price.

The stock markets gonna crash. And soon Trump will stage a coup.

[JoseBalow]

28. Iran can't block the Strait of Hormuz

Only WE can block the Strait of Hormuz!

[crud]

32. I'm sure this has been gamed out several hundred times

when they get to the part where Iran shuts down the strait to it's enemies, is when the US shuts it down for everyone. I saw this coming, aside from invasion, this is the only play we had. I have no idea what comes next, but it's not good.

[paleotn]

38. We're fucking ourselves!!!! It's insanity!!!

Iran has been under sanctions for years. They can ride it out. The rest of the global economy, include US, are fucked.

This is like trying to end a Mexican standoff by pointing your own gun and your own head.

[Buckeyeblue]

34. Another Sunday where Trump threatens Iran with total annihilation

At least this week we are being spared the count-down.

[paleotn]

35. So let me get this straight....

We and Iran have been punching each other in the face for weeks now. We decide to have talks to end our face punching. Iran goes hard line. In retaliation we decide to punch OURSELVES in the face until Iran comes to their senses. OK.

This has got to be the stupidest move in the history of history.

[flvegan]

41. "...they want nuclear." It's like suffering a far more stupid GWB. Once

an impossible thought.

[Nigrum Cattus]

43. this just proves his good cop, bad cop "negotiations" are all BS

vance (good cop) is just stalling for time
tsf (bad cop) is doing everything israel wants
this bodes very badly

[LetMyPeopleVote]

45. TOFU: Trump Only Fucks Up

Link to tweet

[Ponietz]

53. This is gold

[gab13by13]

46. So, thinking this through,

China buys a lot of oil from Iran. Iran buys a tanker of oil, the US Navy stops the ship from going to China, then what? Makes the ship sail to Port Arthur?

How does the Navy know which ships paid the toll? I doubt that Iran makes China pay a toll.

Crude oil should go up tomorrow but with this manipulated market, who knows?

[the_liberal_grandpa]

48. It's The Weekends Market Manipulation News

It's the weekend so the felon is gonna talk crazy to the market drops and he and his cronies can make
more money when he announces negotiations are going great and the market goes back up.

That's what he does on weekends. Golf and manipulate the stock market

[Figarosmom]

49. And what will any of this accomplish?

He's an idiot. Iran knows they won. This won't restart negotiations nor help in any way.

[gab13by13]

54. It will hurt Iran's economy

and make it more desperate.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

91. It will soothe Baby Piggy

when he is shown the massive size of that plagiarized twitter post!

[Takket]

55. if we want the strait open, how does blockading it help that? Since blockade means "close"

explain it to me like i'm 6.

[Martin68]

57. The man is certifiably insane. His cabinet and supporters in Congress are certifiably corrupt degenerates.

[Bettie]

59. So, by "Interdict" does he mean

blowing them up like they did to fishing boats last year?

Or is he talking about piracy by our government?

[SamuelAdams]

60. Iran is attacking ships with weapons we supposedly destroyed.

We are blockading the Strait we are supposedly opening up. Last night he didn't care if we made a deal. This morning he's threatening global trade because of not having a deal. It would be nice if the clown could keep his story straight two posts in a row.

[c-rational]

79. Well said.

[Alpeduez21]

62. I don't understand how closing the Strait makes it open

That part confuses me

[Bluestocking]

63. What is supposed to happen at this point

Is congress says enough already and begins the impeachment process. That is what is supposed to happen but it won’t

[Shipwack]

64. I'll start worrying after TACO Tuesday. nt

[Scalded Nun]

67. So, now we will threaten to blow up ships from other countries because...

They pay a toll to go through the Strait?

Can't wait to see that dumbfuckery play out.

Interesting as well to see how toll payments made via crypto get traced.

How's the oil price doing today?

[gab13by13]

70. Right now crude oil futures are down $1.30

The market taking care of Krasnov.

[flashman13]

69. P.S. Donny: They still own the Straits of Hormuz. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

[yaesu]

71. The criminal tRump regime has been doing this to Colombia and Cuba and getting away with it so nows its Hormuz

plus he probably went long on oil stocks just before this announcement.

[Historic NY]

72. Inderdicting shipping on the High Seas

amounts to piracy. Iran controls the Strait. Shipping pay tolls to pass the Suez and the Panama Canal.

[gab13by13]

81. Manmade canals are allowed to charge fees,

according to maritime law, fees are not allowed on the open seas.

[Historic NY]

85. But is it really open sea when it divided in ther middle of Iranian territory

mainland and island. The US is going after shipping that passed, perhaps with the consent of the Iranian government.

Controlling a waterway, specifically a strait or channel located between an island and a mainland, offers significant strategic, economic, and military advantages. Such control is often referred to as holding a "choke point," which allows for the monitoring, regulation, or restriction of maritime traffic.

https://sites.tufts.edu/lawofthesea/chapter-two/]

[Kahuna]

73. Read: If he can't have the toll proceeds, nobody can have them. nt

[ToxMarz]

76. So Iran is no longer blocking the Strait of Hormuz, because WE are blocking the Strait of Hormuz.

Nah Nah, We Win!

[spinbaby]

95. Pretty much covers it

So far:
The strait will naturally open.
Iran must open the strait.
We’re going to blockade the strait ourselves.

Talk about moving goalposts.

[mainer]

77. So we blow up a Chinese tanker and... what?

Has he gamed out war with China yet?

[Native]

82. Am I the only one who is dying to know the "other countries" that will be involved in our blockade?

[NoMoreRepugs]

84. TrumpenFuhrer has slaughtered Iranian children, made extinction level threats - to a country

controlled by religious zealots who know Israel and nettyahoo want them eradicated. So let’s play a game of chicken half a world away to see who caves first. Now that is one fucked up strategy IMO.

[gab13by13]

87. The blockade is meant to starve Iran economically.

[NickB79]

89. How soon untill we see a Chinese aircraft carrier escorting Chinese oil tankers?

That would be quite the conundrum.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

90. "Interdict"???

Oh yeah, that's in Piggy's vocabulary!

He's probably shuffling along the buffet line at one of his roach and rat infested golf clubs, after being diapered and soothed about how manly the war is going.

[B.See]

92. TRANSLATION: "I will now use

the illegal and unnecessary war... correction, regime change... correction, land oil and mineral GRAB, I and Bibi started (I name myself FIRST)

as an excuse to engage in outright PIRACY ON THE HIGH SEAS.

Thank you for your attention...."

[themaguffin]

94. He thinks that his over the top bullying will work as keeps failing. Mr dealmaker can't even converse with people either

[muriel_volestrangler]

96. Crude oil trading has restarted - up from $95 to $102 for Brent crude

https://tradingeconomics.com/commodity/brent-crude-oil