Trump Announces US Now ‘Guardian’ of Strait of Hormuz, Wants 20% of All Revenue in Return

President Trump announced on Truth Social his intent to take over management of the Strait of Hormuz and committed to defending all shipping transiting it. In return, he intends to charge a fee amounting to 20% of the value of the cargo that passes through.

Brilliant. Enough rewarding these murderous savages.

And this could generate nearly $200B annually.
Trump ordered airstrikes against Iran last Wednesday and declared both the cease-fire and MOU “over” — in what some advisers dubbed “Operation Bitch Slap.”

‘Guardian of the Strait’ with a 20% cover charge. Trump doesn’t do free security. https://t.co/VHIveD1jNy

— Jewels Jones ® (@JewelsJonesLive) July 13, 2026

President Trump’s proposed 20% toll on commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could generate nearly $200 billion annually in revenue — a windfall large enough to cover about half of the federal civilian payroll.

Trump announced the concept on Monday — after months of rejecting Iran’s plan for post-war tolls — in what could amount to a negotiating tactic.

Brandon Daniels, CEO of supply chain AI company Exiger, told The Post that the annual volume of international commerce in the strait was between $880 billion and $970 billion before the war.

POLITICO: President Donald Trump on Monday said the U.S. will take over the Strait of Hormuz — and will be reimbursed “at the rate of 20% on all cargo shipped” for overseeing one of the world’s most critical oil passageways that has been at the center of the U.S.’s re-escalating war with Iran. “We will become guardians of the strait,” Trump said during an interview with “Fox & Friends” on Monday morning. “We’re going to hit [Iran] very hard and keep the strait, and probably run it.” His comments arrive on the heels of fresh strikes in the Gulf, where Iran and the U.S. exchanged heavy fire over the weekend. Trump followed his Fox News interview with a Truth Social post that said the U.S. will reimpose a blockade on Iran. “All other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait,” he said, but added that “as a matter of FAIRNESS, [the U.S.] will be reimbursed, at the rate of 20% on all cargo shipped, for any and all costs necessary to do the job of providing safety and security to this very volatile section of the World.” (POLITICO.)

Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi shot back at President Trump. Araghchi: POTUS is absolutely right. Whoever provides secure and safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz should be compensated for this service.  Iran has always been the GUARDIAN of the Strait and will remain so FOREVER. 20% is of course too much. We will be fair (Seyed Abbas Araghchi on X.)

X is where people go to see diplomacy in action these days.