Donald Trump left critics in disbelief on Sunday with a remark about his Iran war during a press huddle on board Air Force One. The president was discussing his call for other countries to send ships to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, the vital — and currently effectively shut — waterway off Iran through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil passes. Asked how quickly those deployments would happen, Trump said it would “start immediately,” with different countries offering different forms of assistance, including minesweeper boats. Trump: You could make the case that maybe we shouldn’t even be there at all pic.twitter.com/eksmDTpT3Y — Acyn (@Acyn) March 16, 2026 He later said: “So, we need, I, I would really, I’m demanding that these countries come in and protect their own territory because it is their territory, it’s the place from which they get their energy and they should come and they should help us protect it.” Then came the line that quickly sparked reaction online: “You could make the case that maybe we shouldn’t even be there at all because we don’t need it.” “We have a lot of oil,” said Trump. “We were the number one producer anywhere in the world times two by double at least double. Now I think it’s much higher than that. But we do it. It’s almost like we do it for habit, but we also do it for some very good allies that we have in the Middle East.” Sorry, what was that? https://t.co/1Fkj07etfj — Maine (@TheMaineWonk) March 16, 2026 I’m sure the fallen soldier families feel comforted- unbelievable https://t.co/oapvsvj3cw — Phillygirl74 (@Phillygirl741) March 16, 2026 Trump has a good point; maybe the U.S. shouldn't be there at all. Hope he takes that one to heart. https://t.co/ZstaRPIi8U — Dean Baker (@DeanBaker13) March 16, 2026 It’s a little late for that Donnie. https://t.co/Fy2ymYXu4b — Journalistic Facts (@JournalistFact1) March 16, 2026 So he started a war that should never have been started that he can’t finish and is now demanding others join https://t.co/hveWzURqFa — Wu Tang is for the Children (@WUTangKids) March 16, 2026 Such a stupidity! Trump started the war so he is responsible. Trump has raised the global oil price so he is responsible and the price hike hits all regardless of where they get their oil. How can the U.S. have such a dumb & rude president? https://t.co/kukdnGP5Jr — Anders Åslund (@anders_aslund) March 16, 2026 Trump has a good point; maybe the U.S. shouldn't be there at all. Hope he takes that one to heart. https://t.co/ZstaRPIi8U — Dean Baker (@DeanBaker13) March 16, 2026 WTF??? https://t.co/I5b4BvYRut — The May (@Coachmay17) March 16, 2026 This is rich coming from him. Why would these other countries lift a finger to help him clean up the mess he made after he’s threatened more than half the world with insults, tariffs, and demand for other countries to give themselves over to the US? You don’t spit on others and… https://t.co/PBbZ9hfgaL — Camille MacKenzie (@CamRMacKenzie) March 16, 2026 Trump starts the biggest war in the Middle East in 20 years > Trump maybe we shouldn’t be there at all…. https://t.co/hKkWbd10mK — John Marston (@Marston1889) March 16, 2026 No shit https://t.co/63Jp7eRZdR — Amys Here (@amys_here) March 16, 2026