Amidst ongoing U.S. airstrikes on Iranian targets and explosions in Isfahan, Donald Trump shifted his focus on Tuesday to criticize America’s closest allies.
In a social media post, the former U.S. President advised nations like the United Kingdom to “start learning to fight for themselves.” He encouraged them to gather the “courage” to sail into the Strait of Hormuz and secure their own fuel, asserting that “Iran has been, for the most part, decimated. The hardest part is done. Go get your own oil!”
Trump’s message was unequivocal: he suggested that countries struggling to access jet fuel due to the Strait of Hormuz, specifically mentioning the UK for its perceived inaction, should either “buy from the United States, we have plenty,” or “take your courage in both hands, go into the strait and take it.” He emphasized that allies must “start learning to fight for yourselves,” as the U.S. would not always provide assistance, echoing a sentiment of unreciprocated support. He reiterated, “Iran has been, for the most part, decimated. The hardest part is done. Go get your own oil!”
This strong statement coincided with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s warning that the conflict, now a month old, was entering a “decisive” phase. Hegseth claimed Iran possessed “almost nothing” militarily to counter the unfolding events. While he maintained that diplomatic discussions with Iran were “active and gaining strength,” he left no doubt about the alternative, stating, “We would much rather reach an agreement. But in the meantime, we will negotiate with bombs.”