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“Tell these tankers to get themselves, get to it,” Trump told Kilmeade. “We have wiped out most of their launchers.”
Trump then doubled down on the message, urging the shipping industry to stop waiting.
“These ships should go through the Strait of Hormuz and show some guts. There’s nothing to be afraid of. They have no navy – we sunk all their ships.”
The president’s remarks weren’t delivered through a press office statement or carefully scripted briefing. Instead, they came directly from the commander-in-chief during a live interview, sending a signal to energy markets and shipping companies watching closely for signs of stability in the region.
Kilmeade summarized Trump’s point for listeners during the broadcast.
“He’s saying, ‘Come on, guys. Get to it!'”
Operation Epic Fury Deals Heavy Blow to Iran’s Navy
According to administration officials, Trump’s confidence stems from recent military operations against Iranian naval assets.
Under a campaign dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” U.S. forces have reportedly inflicted significant damage on the Iranian fleet since the operation began on February 28.
Military sources claim that more than 40 Iranian vessels have either been destroyed or severely damaged during the operation. Among the targets reportedly struck was a major naval installation at Bandar Abbas, Iran’s primary naval hub along the Persian Gulf.
Satellite images circulating in defense circles appear to show extensive damage to the facility.
Officials also say Iranian naval activity across the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman has largely disappeared in recent days.
Trump told Kilmeade that Iran’s remaining missile launch capability is a fraction of what it once was.
“They can’t regenerate,” Trump said. “They can’t make any more.”
Energy Secretary Predicts Oil Will Soon Flow
Chris Wright echoed that assessment during an appearance on Fox News over the weekend.
According to Wright, at least one major oil tanker has already passed through the strait without encountering problems.
“One large tanker has already gone through the straits with no issues at all. We’re massively attriting their ability to strike with missiles and drones, and that rate of attrition will increase in the coming days.”
He added a prediction many energy traders are watching closely.
“Energy will flow soon.”
Administration officials have also reportedly ordered additional U.S. naval assets into the region to escort commercial shipping if necessary. In addition, the federally backed U.S. Development Finance Corporation has been tasked with providing political risk insurance to companies sending vessels through the Gulf.
The move is intended to remove one of the largest barriers keeping shipping companies on the sidelines.
Schumer Pushes Alternative Strategy
Not everyone in Washington agrees with Trump’s approach.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is calling for a different strategy—one that involves tapping the nation’s emergency oil reserves.
Schumer released a statement Sunday urging the administration to begin drawing from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve immediately.
“The Strategic Petroleum Reserve exists for moments exactly like this,” Schumer said.
Critics of that proposal argue that the reserve is meant for catastrophic supply disruptions—not as a substitute for reopening global shipping routes.
During the Biden administration, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve experienced the largest release in its history as officials attempted to reduce gasoline prices during an election year.
Supporters of Trump say repeating that strategy would weaken the nation’s emergency stockpile.
Trump responded Sunday with a post on Truth Social addressing the issue.
“Short term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay for U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace. ONLY FOOLS WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY!”
A Global Chokepoint With Enormous Stakes
The Strait of Hormuz is widely considered the most critical oil shipping route in the world.
Roughly 20 percent of the planet’s petroleum supply passes through the narrow corridor connecting the Persian Gulf to global markets.
Even temporary disruptions can send energy prices soaring and rattle economies across Europe, Asia, and North America.
For more than a week, tanker traffic slowed dramatically as shipping companies waited for assurances about security in the region—guarantees that historically have proven difficult to provide.
Trump, however, is taking a different approach.
Rather than promising absolute safety, the administration is offering naval protection and urging the industry to move forward.
One tanker reportedly made the journey Sunday night without incident, temporarily disabling its tracking signal while passing through the strait before reactivating it after reaching open waters.
A Shift in American Posture
Supporters of the administration say the moment represents a broader shift in how the United States handles global threats.
For years, critics argued that adversaries doubted Washington’s willingness to act decisively.
Trump’s defenders say the recent naval campaign is meant to change that perception.
In just over a week, the administration claims to have severely crippled Iranian maritime capabilities—demonstrating that the United States is willing to use force to protect international commerce.
With the waterway still open and U.S. naval power firmly positioned in the region, the president’s challenge to tanker captains now hangs in the air.
The question facing the global shipping industry is simple: will they move forward—or continue waiting on the sidelines?
