Trump Floats Renaming Strait of Hormuz After Himself

The president's latest self-promotion idea faces backlash from allies and critics alike.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 1:24am

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President Donald Trump is facing criticism after floating the idea of renaming the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil shipping lane, as the 'Strait of Trump' or the 'Strait of America.' The proposal has been met with mockery, with some of Trump's own allies describing his self-promotion in the White House as 'tiresome and tacky' and risking 'tarnishing his legacy.'

Why it matters

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically important global shipping chokepoint, and renaming it after Trump or the United States would be seen as a provocative move amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran. The proposal highlights Trump's continued efforts to put his personal brand on everything, which critics say is damaging the presidency and America's global standing.

The details

At an investor forum in Miami, Trump referred to the Strait of Hormuz as the 'Strait of Trump' before quickly correcting himself, saying the remark was intentional. The president has also privately discussed rebranding the waterway as the 'Strait of America' if the U.S. helps wrest control of it from Iran. One administration official told the New York Post that the U.S. is 'taking the Strait back' and questioned why it should still be called Hormuz if Washington ends up policing it.

  • On March 29, 2026, Trump floated the idea of renaming the Strait of Hormuz at an investor forum in Miami.

The players

President Donald Trump

The current President of the United States who has a history of attempting to put his personal brand on various places and entities.

The Daily Beast

The news publication that first reported on Trump's proposal to rename the Strait of Hormuz.

The New York Post

The news publication that interviewed an administration official about the U.S. 'taking the Strait back' from Iran.

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What they’re saying

“Excuse me, I'm so sorry. Such a terrible mistake. The Fake News will say, 'He accidentally said.' No, there are no accidents with me.”

— President Donald Trump

“Trump's self-promotion while in the White House is 'getting tiresome and tacky,' and risks 'tarnishing his legacy.'”

— Former administration official

What’s next

It remains to be seen if the Trump administration will pursue officially renaming the Strait of Hormuz, which would likely face significant opposition from the international community.

The takeaway

President Trump's latest attempt to put his personal brand on a globally significant geographic feature highlights his continued efforts to aggrandize himself, which critics say is damaging the presidency and America's global standing. The proposal has been met with mockery, even from some of his own allies, underscoring the growing unease over Trump's self-promotion while in office.