Trump's Tax Threat on Oil Route Sparks Backlash from His Own Team
Donald Trump, in a shocking display of political disarray, announced plans to impose a 20% tax on vessels traversing the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil export route. This comes as he faces mounting health concerns after appearing publicly with "two mangled hands."
On July 13, Trump declared on his Truth Social platform that the Strait would "remain OPEN, with or without" the Middle Eastern country, igniting a firestorm of criticism from his own administration.
During CNN NewsNight, host Abby Philip aired a compilation video showcasing Trump Administration officials directly contradicting the president's claims. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated unequivocally, "No country is allowed to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway. That’s existing international law."
Vice President JD Vance also weighed in, asserting during a press briefing, "First of all, we believe in international waterways. This should be free of tolls." This internal dissent highlights a significant rift within Trump's circle.
Even Secretary of War Pete Hegseth chimed in back in May, denouncing the idea of imposing fees as "a form of international extortion" and unacceptable. The Strait of Hormuz has become a flashpoint for U.S.-Iran tensions.
On July 8, the U.S. escalated its military response with missile strikes against Iran, following attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait. Iran has yet to acknowledge any involvement in these incidents.
While attending the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Trump claimed that any ceasefire or memorandum of understanding with Iran was effectively dead. He vowed to strike the Iranian regime "hard," labeling its leaders as "scum" and "vicious, violent people."
"It's a very interesting question. To me, I think it's over," Trump stated, expressing his disdain for negotiations. "I don’t want to deal with them anymore; they’re scum. You know what scum is? They’re sick people. They’re led by sick people. And they’re vicious, violent people."
He further asserted that if Iran possessed a nuclear weapon, they would use it. "As far as I’m concerned it’s over," he declared, dismissing any further discussions with Iranian negotiators.
Trump concluded with a scathing remark about his own team: "They’re liars. There’s something wrong with them. They’re cuckoo. As far as I’m concerned, it’s over."
