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Posted on 08/12/2026 8:37:25 PM PDT by Miami Rebel
Fox News anchor Bret Baier undercut President Donald Trump’s baseless claim that the U.S. “totally” controls the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway through which 20% of the world’s oil flows.
On Tuesday, Trump spoke with reporters and addressed the strait, which Iran effectively closed after the U.S. and Israel launched the current war on the country in February. But somehow, the president insisted the U.S. has it all under control.
“We totally control the Strait of Hormuz,” he said, reality be damned. “We have control over it. Nobody else. Only us. Our navy is unbelievable, and things are going great for our country.”
On Wednesday’s Special Report, Baier informed Fox viewers that Trump’s claim has no basis in fact.
“Let’s start with the Strait of Hormuz,” he began. Now, this is a narrow passage between Iran and Oman. It’s the gateway between the Persian Gulf and the open ocean. And look at what normally passes through here.”
Baier then explained:
Total oil flow averaged nearly 21 million barrels per day in the first half of last year, equivalent to about 20% of global petroleum liquids consumption. Usually, about one-fifth of the world’s liquefied natural gas trade moves through there as well. Despite President Trump claiming total control over the strait, traffic has slowed, really, to a trickle if you look at this.
Before the conflict, more than 100 vessels a day were crossing. Monday, eight vessels crossed. Yesterday, 14. Now, those are constraints, and it’s changing the government’s energy outlook. The Energy Information Administration raised its forecast for the average price of a gallon of gasoline over the full year by 14 cents. You can see right here. It also raised its 2026 forecast for Brent crude from $82 a barrel to $87 a barrel.
And there’s another problem building as well. The International Energy Agency says global crude oil inventories fell by 2.2 million barrels a day in July. It expects a global supply deficit of 1.8 million barrels a day in the third quarter. That’s more than double its previous estimate.
Hours before Baier’s report, Trump fired off a Truth Social post in which he again claimed the U.S. controls the strait and thanked Allah.
“Their country is ‘shot,'” the president wrote. “All they have is FAKE NEWS and 300% INFLATION, and getting worse! Iran is all talk and no action, the Bully of the Middle East No Longer. Praise be to Allah!”
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We actually do control the straits. Nobody is getting in or out that we do not approve of.
On the global oil supply, the figures cited in the story seem to ignore the oil coming out of the gulf that is flowing thru new or existing pipelines from UAE, Saudi Arabia and others.
hmmm don’t think Bret knows all- like he didn’t know all the oil tankers we escorted in Operaton Freedom. he didn’t even intuit it from the market indicator, falling oil prices at the time.
Brett Baier is a smug POS who despises anything related to Trump. What I dont understand is why people believe the news from “Tehran” over the words of our President!
Brett is TDS. Cannot stand this POS.
Stupid losing unnecessary war..
You prefer a nuke in your back yard?
yeah, like that was about to happen
don’t reply too stupidly ..
Once the Muslims take over, with the assistance and approval of the Dems, RINOs, and TDS sufferers, they won't need nukes.
Iran cannot legally close the Strait of Hormuz under international law. The strait is an essential international waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the open ocean. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and customary international law, all ships enjoy the right of continuous and unobstructed “transit passage” through international straits. Coastal states do not have the right to suspend this navigation or levy passage tolls. -———Nottingham Trent University
Most legal scholars and maritime nations maintain that the right of transit passage applies universally to the Strait of Hormuz, meaning unilateral closure or total blockage by Iran violates international law.———Nottingham Trent University
Iran argues it has not ratified UNCLOS and contends that the waterway is governed strictly by the regime of non-suspendable innocent passage rather than transit passage, giving it more discretion to restrict ships it views as security threats. -———International Law Blog
During active military hostilities, Iran has attempted to justify partial restrictions or targeting of specific adversary (U.S.) military assets under the right of self-defense (Article 51 of the UN Charter). However, international bodies reject blanket closures, and targeting neutral commercial shipping or laying indiscriminate naval mines remains illegal under the laws of naval warfare. -———Nottingham Trent University
On platforms like Reddit, opinions are mixed regarding this dynamic: users note that while a total legal closure lacks foundation in international maritime law, Iran’s physical proximity and military capabilities in the region allow it to exert significant de facto (practical) control or disruption over shipping lanes through coercion, warning shots, or selective enforcement.———SSRN eLibrary
Has Bret declared Iran the winner yet?
So what?
Are substantial cargoes moving through the strait, or not?
Not tough to do when you own the mountains that overlook the strait.
I think there is a website that shows active shipping beacons of comercial ships, any where in the world..right?
That would reveal the truth.
Chyna is buying less.
The middle east has ramped up not strait of Trump supply routes.
Venezuela is coming along nicely.
Eventually, Iran will be cut out of the oil production bizness.
I believe we do have total control but that doesn’t mean ships insured by Loyd’s of London or other carriers or companies are going to allow their ships to transit.
There’s far more to the story.
Let me think about who I believe, Brett, someone else, Brett or someone else....
A news guy says so, so it must be true.
Where is Brett getting his information?
Traffic goes thru at night with transponder’s off. They don’t show up in the statistics.
The war started when in 1979. This is a hot period in that conflict. Now you know.
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