Trump Says U.S. Should Be Paid for Guarding Strait of Hormuz- U.S. President Donald Trump has renewed his call for the United States to be compensated for securing the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints, arguing that Washington should no longer bear the cost of protecting global shipping routes without financial returns.
Speaking during an interview with Fox News on Monday, Trump said the United States has spent decades safeguarding international commerce through the narrow waterway and suggested it was time for countries benefiting from those efforts to contribute financially.
“We’re going to keep the strait, and we’ll probably run it,” Trump said. “We’ll become the guardian of the strait—maybe we’ll call it the guardian angel of the strait. And we should be reimbursed for that.”
The president added that the U.S. has long protected the shipping lane without receiving compensation, saying, “We can’t be expected to do that for nothing. We guarded it for nothing, and now we’re going to guard it, we’re going to get paid for guarding it. A lot of money.”
Trump’s remarks come as tensions between the United States and Iran continue to escalate, raising concerns about the future security of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The waterway serves as one of the world’s busiest energy corridors, with a significant share of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas exports passing through it.
The proposal also revives Trump’s earlier suggestion that commercial vessels transiting the strait could be required to pay a fee to the United States for maritime security services. While he did not provide details on how such a system would operate, reports indicate the administration has discussed the possibility of imposing a 20% toll on cargo moving through the strategic shipping route.
The Strait of Hormuz has become a focal point of geopolitical tensions following renewed hostilities between Washington and Tehran. Iran has repeatedly asserted that it has the right to regulate navigation through waters near its coastline and has previously suggested imposing transit fees or other restrictions on vessels using the strait.
The United States, however, has consistently maintained that the Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway where freedom of navigation must be protected under international maritime law. Successive U.S. administrations have argued that ensuring the security of commercial shipping in the region is vital for global energy markets and international trade.
According to Trump’s latest comments, Washington should be financially compensated for maintaining that security, particularly by countries whose economies depend heavily on uninterrupted energy supplies from the Gulf.
The president has previously expressed similar views. Shortly after a temporary ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran was announced, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that there would be no tolls “unless they are imposed by and for the United States of America” should diplomatic efforts fail. He described such payments as reimbursement for “services rendered” in protecting the region’s maritime trade routes.
Trump’s latest statements suggest he remains committed to that idea as diplomatic efforts with Iran face increasing uncertainty.
The renewed proposal has already drawn attention from analysts and market participants because any changes affecting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could have significant economic consequences. Energy traders closely monitor developments in the region since even the possibility of disruptions can influence global oil prices.
Following Trump’s remarks and continued geopolitical tensions, oil prices moved higher as investors weighed the risk of potential supply disruptions. Meanwhile, major stock indexes came under pressure amid broader concerns over instability in the Middle East and its impact on global markets.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically sensitive waterways. Any proposal involving transit fees, military oversight, or expanded security operations is likely to face scrutiny from shipping companies, energy exporters, importing nations, and international legal experts.
Whether Trump’s proposal evolves into formal U.S. policy remains uncertain. Any effort to impose charges on commercial vessels using the strait would likely require complex legal, diplomatic, and military considerations, while also drawing responses from regional powers and America’s international allies.
For now, Trump’s comments underscore his broader position that the United States should receive greater financial compensation from allies and trading partners for providing global security, extending that argument to one of the world’s most vital maritime trade corridors.
