So Donald Trump helps Iran choke off the Strait of Hormuz, and now he’s telling the world to figure out their own oil supply
He's still coping with rejection.
President Donald Trump has launched another sharp critique against European nations for not joining his war on Iran, telling them to “go get your own oil” by force if they’re worried about fuel prices. This comes as several European countries are actively pushing back against the conflict, with France blocking Israeli planes from flying weapons through its airspace and Italy refusing landing permission for US bombers.
According to The Guardian, the president took to Truth Social on March 31, 2026, to unleash a tirade, specifically calling out the UK and France. He said that countries struggling to get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the UK, which “refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran,” should instead buy US oil. He even suggested they “build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT.”
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth echoed this sentiment, pointing fingers at the UK’s Royal Navy. Hegseth said there are countries that “ought be prepared to step up on this critical waterway as well.” He then added, “Last time I checked, there was supposed to be a big, bad Royal Navy that could be prepared to do things like that as well.”
Controlling the Strait of Hormuz by force is widely considered high-risk and unrealistic
France’s decision to block planes headed to Israel, loaded with military supplies, from flying over its territory particularly irked Trump. He called the country “VERY UNHELPFUL” in a separate post. The office of French President Emmanuel Macron expressed surprise at Trump’s tweet, noting that Paris “has not changed its position since day one” of the conflict.
Spain has also denied the US use of its bases and airspace for the war, and Madrid’s defense minister firmly stated the country would not “accept lectures from anyone.” Meanwhile, the UK has allowed the US to use its bases for a war its government calls illegal, yet it still received public admonishment from Trump.
This war, which kicked off on February 28, 2026, has been wreaking havoc on the global economy. The economic fallout is causing widespread frustration, and the oil supply shock from the US-Israeli attack on Iran is “probably the worst ever,” according to Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
Here in the US, average gas prices have now passed $4 a gallon for the first time in four years. Trump is now facing the prospect of a domestic backlash to a one-month conflict he hasn’t been able to end with violence, threats, or flattery.
Washington claims it’s negotiating hard with Iran to reach a deal, but Tehran’s ruling regime has been pretty lukewarm, viewing this crisis as an existential fight. On Tuesday, March 31, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated Iran has the “necessary will” to end the war, “provided that essential conditions are met,” specifically guarantees that the conflict won’t be repeated.
Following Pezeshkian’s remarks, spot prices for Brent crude dipped below $104 a barrel for the first time since Friday, as markets rallied on even the slightest potential for negotiations. Trump also told NBC News on the day that the war was “coming to an end,” though he didn’t specify how that would happen.
Despite Trump’s many claims of the war ending soon, the situation has only continued to escalate
On Tuesday, blasts were heard in the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh, and Tehran attacked a fully loaded Kuwaiti oil tanker in the Gulf. US strikes also hit the city of Isfahan, home to one of Iran’s main nuclear sites, sending a huge fireball into the sky.
The US announced it had started using B-52 bombers to strike targets in Iran, which suggests a level of air superiority that would let the military operate without fear of pilots being shot down. More than 3,000 people have died in this conflict, and governments outside the region are really focused on the economic shocks at a time when many countries are already dealing with high inflation, slow growth, and a cost of living crisis.
Trump has been openly upset about Iran closing off the Strait of Hormuz, even though that closure was widely predicted well before the war began if there were an all-out assault on Tehran. Even Pope Leo XIV expressed hope on Tuesday that the conflict will be over by this weekend. The US-born pontiff told reporters, “I’m told that President Trump has recently stated that he would like to end the war. I hope that he’s looking for an off-ramp.”
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