President Donald Trump expressed doubts about whether American voters would support the United States taking control of Kharg Island amid ongoing conflict with Iran. In an interview on Fox & Friends, Trump stated, "I don’t know that America has the stomach for it, to be honest with you."
Trump's comments coincided with a post on Truth Social where he threatened to seize Kharg Island, a key oil export terminal for Iran, and indicated plans for further military action against Iran. He compared the potential takeover of Kharg Island to the U.S. actions in Venezuela, claiming it had been beneficial for the U.S. in terms of oil extraction.
Despite a fragile ceasefire, Trump promised "bigger" bombing efforts against Tehran, following recent U.S. strikes in retaliation for Iran's actions. He has long advocated for taking control of Kharg Island, which is crucial for Iran's oil exports. However, he refrained from committing U.S. troops to the region, stating, "I don’t want to have boots on the ground, but if I wanted to, we could put a small group of soldiers and take over the whole place." The ongoing conflict in Iran remains largely unpopular among the American public, which may not support further military involvement.