Trump tells EU 'get your own oil,' hints ending Iran war without reopening Hormuz

Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News on Mar 31, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

President Donald Trump is reportedly hinting he could end the war against Iran without reopening the crucial Straits of Hormuz through which 20% of the world’s oil passes, as gas prices soared above $4.

Trump has told aides behind closed doors that he could pull the plug on the monthlong conflict without forcing Iran to allow open passage for shipping and oil tankers in and out of the Persian Gulf, the Wall Street Journal reported.

With gas and oil prices soaring, the president Tuesday openly warned allies including the United Kingdom and France that they will need to take part in a military operation to secure the strategic waterway regardless of whether the war results in its reopening.

“Build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT,” Trump posted on his social media site. “You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself.”

Trump made no effort to hide his disdain for allies who did not support the war and are now suffering from the huge oil price spike that has resulted from Iran’s closure of the narrow waterway.

“The U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us,” he added. “Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil.”

Trump told CBS News that he wasn’t ready “quite yet” to pull American forces out of the fight with Iran and declined to lay out specific goals that need to be achieved.

“At some point I will, not quite yet. But countries have to come in and take care of it. Iran has been decimated, but they’re going to have to come in and do their own work,” Trump said. “It’s about time they did something for themselves.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed Trump’s remarks at a Pentagon briefing about the war, which he mostly painted in rosy terms.

“There are countries around the world that ought to be ready to step up on this critical waterway,” Hegseth told reporters. “It’s not just the U.S.”

“Might want to learn how to fight for yourself,” he added.

The remarks came as a giant Kuwaiti oil tanker was hit by a suspected Iranian drone attack in Dubai’s harbor, underscoring the continuing danger to shipping in the Gulf.

Oil prices rose again after the attack, even though Wall Street rose on hopes that Trump might be considering ending the war soon.

The price of gasoline at American pumps also rose, topping $4 for the first time during either of Trump’s two terms in the White House. The price at the pumps has soared by more than a dollar a gallon in the month since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran, one of the sharpest increases on record.

Diesel and jet fuel have increased even more, underlining the economic threat posed by the ongoing conflict and the effective blockade of the Persian Gulf.

The war and rising prices have also driven Trump’s poll approval ratings down to their lowest level yet, spotlighting the political danger to Republicans as the congressional midterm elections loom.

_____