‘Americans don’t want Strait of Hormuz renamed Strait of Trump’, says Bernie Sanders

WASHINGTON: US Senator Bernie Sanders has pushed back against President Donald Trump’s remarks about renaming the Strait of Hormuz, saying Americans do not want the strategically important waterway to be given Trump’s name.

Sanders was responding to Trump’s comments about whether the waterway could eventually be called the “Strait of Trump” after the president had previously referred to it as the “Strait of America”.

In a sharp response, Sanders told Trump that being president did not give him unlimited authority to reshape national and international institutions according to his wishes.

“Trump, you are the president, not a mad king,” Sanders said, urging the president to focus on governing rather than personalising major national issues.

The senator also said that Americans wanted an end to what he described as an illegal war against Iran. According to Sanders, the conflict has already placed additional pressure on ordinary Americans by driving up fuel prices.

He claimed the war had pushed the price of diesel to $5.69 per gallon, while gasoline had reached $4.12 per gallon.

Sanders argued that rising energy costs were among the clearest consequences of the conflict and said US policy should focus on ending the war rather than escalating tensions.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically important waterways, linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and providing a major route for global energy shipments.

Trump’s remarks about renaming the waterway have added another unusual dimension to the increasingly tense debate over US policy toward Iran.

Sanders’ criticism reflects broader concerns among opponents of the conflict, who say the administration should prioritise diplomacy, economic stability and the interests of American households over symbolic name changes.

The dispute comes as tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz continue to draw international attention because of its importance to global oil supplies and shipping.