Continuing his criticism of allies, U.S. President Donald Trump on April 1 at a White House Easter luncheon called South Korea 'not helpful' and urged it and others to secure the Strait of Hormuz, blocked by Iran amid its war with the U.S. and Israel. He noted U.S. troops 'in harm's way' near North Korea's nuclear arsenal.
At the annual White House Easter luncheon on April 1, President Trump criticized South Korea, China, Japan, and France for depending on the Strait of Hormuz—choked by Iran's missile and drone attacks since late February in retaliation for U.S.-Israel airstrikes—without contributing naval support like escorting merchant ships. "Let South Korea, who was not helpful to us, by the way... we only have 45,000 soldiers in harm's way over there, right next to a nuclear force. Let South Korea do it," he said, alluding to the roughly 28,500 U.S. troops in South Korea facing North Korea.
The strait handles about a fifth of global oil, and its closure has spiked prices, fueling inflation fears. Trump, who previously called NATO 'cowards' for refusing help, reiterated the U.S. stance: buy American oil or secure the strait themselves. He forecasted the Iran war ending in 'two or three weeks,' plans a Wednesday national address on the conflict and strait, and noted no U.S. reliance on the route. South Korea elevated its energy alert to the second-highest level.
