Finance
Trump tells fox news: US would escort oil tankers in strait of hormuz if needed
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 13, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 13, 2026
Quick Summary
President Trump said on March 13, 2026, that the U.S. would escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if needed and vowed to strike Iran “very hard” in the coming week, amid an ongoing conflict disrupting global shipping and energy markets (Reuters).
Trump says US would escort ships in Strait of Hormuz 'if needed' -Fox News interview
US Response to Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz
Trump's Statement on Escorting Vessels
WASHINGTON, March 13 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said the United States would escort vessels through the Strait of Hormuz if needed, adding in a Fox News interview that aired on Friday that the U.S. would strike Iran "very hard over the next week."
Details on Oil Tanker Assistance
Asked about helping oil tankers pass through the key shipping strait, Trump said: "We would do it if we needed to. But, you know, hopefully things are going to go very well. We're going to see what happens." He gave no other details.
Further Comments from the Interview
"We're going to be hitting them very hard over the next week," he added in the interview with Fox's Brian Kilmeade that aired in part on its "Fox & Friends" program.
Context: Oil Prices and Geopolitical Tensions
His comments come as the United States and other countries face spiking oil and gas prices with the U.S-Israel war entering its 14th day, with oil prices hovering near $100 a barrel on Friday.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Toby Chopra)
Key Takeaways
- •Trump stated in a Fox News–aired interview that U.S. naval escorts could be deployed through the Strait of Hormuz if necessary, while expressing hopes that ongoing U.S.-led war efforts would proceed effectively (Reuters).
- •The U.S. has offered political risk insurance via the Development Finance Corporation and signaled readiness to escort tankers “as soon as possible,” although no such missions have yet begun (Axios; U.S. Naval Institute) (axios.com).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Trump tells Fox News: US would escort oil tankers in Strait of Hormuz if needed
1What did President Trump say about escorting oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz?
President Trump said the United States would escort vessels through the Strait of Hormuz if needed.
2Where did President Trump make the statement about oil tankers?
He made the statement during a Fox News interview.
3What action did Trump vow regarding Iran in his interview?