President Trump says that the U.S. Navy will escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz “if necessary.” Why would that be necessary? Because Iran has closed off this crucial trading route after it was attacked by the U.S. and Israel. President Trump directed the U.S. Development Finance Corporation to offer political risk insurance and financial guarantees to protect maritime trade moving through the Gulf. The coverage will be available to all shipping companies. Who will pay for that? The U.S. taxpayer. This is a government agency. When it offers political risk insurance or loan guarantees, it is essentially saying: If a private company loses ships, cargo, or contracts because of war or political instability, the U.S. government will compensate them. Would any shipping company take this deal? Why would a ship want to be escorted near Iran by the country that is bombing Iran? Further, this is a dangerous prospect for the U.S. Navy. Iran has made it clear that closed means closed, and they are ready to defend this militarily. They’re not going to allow the U.S. Navy near here. Why would President Trump put these sailors in harm’s way on purpose? Because he knows what this can do to the global economy. He says that “the United States will ensure the free flow of energy to the world” but that is a wish, not a capability. The President also responded to news reports that the U.S. may run out of weapons if the war drags on for more than a few weeks. Not true, he says. We can do this “forever,” he said. He says that the U.S. has plenty of weapons but sadly, gave too many to “P.T. Barnum (Zelenskyy!) of Ukraine.” He has had over a year to get them back but never stopped the flow of weapons to Ukraine so that excuse doesn’t hold. The White House also spent the day refuting what Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday, that Israel was going to attack Iran first and the U.S. had to get on board. When asked about this, President Trump said that it was him that forced Israel’s hand. The ego at play here is astounding. I’m the boss of me! The post Trump Sends U.S. Navy Toward Iran’s Closed Strait appeared first on Redacted.