Fox News anchor John Roberts was visibly stunned after President Donald Trump casually threatened to bomb Oman during a Cabinet meeting Q&A at the White House on Tuesday. The remark came as Trump rejected a proposal for Oman and Iran to jointly control the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump's Controversial Statement
During the Q&A session, Trump declared, "The Strait is going to be open to everybody. It's international waters. We'll watch over it, but nobody's going to control it. Oman will behave like everybody else or we'll have to blow them up. They understand that. They'll be fine." The statement appeared to catch reporters off guard.
Fox News Reaction
Roberts, clearly flummoxed, said, "In the middle of all that — and it really kind of went unnoticed by the reporters — President Trump became the first American president that I know of to ever threaten to take military action against Oman, saying that they have to behave like everyone else or we're going to blow them up. I'm not quite sure what that was all about."
He then turned to senior White House correspondent Peter Doocy, asking for his takeaway from what Roberts called a "not-so-veiled threat against the country of Oman, with which the United States has had a traditionally peaceful relationship."
State Department Doubles Down
Doocy highlighted other moments from the meeting, but Roberts seemed to dwell on the threat. "Well, there's no question there is something going on in this town. For sure," Roberts added.
The State Department later amplified Trump's remarks by posting a clip of his comments on X, ensuring the threat gained further attention. The U.S. has maintained a friendly relationship with Oman for two centuries, making the threat particularly jarring.
Context of the Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical waterway for global oil shipments, and Trump's comments signal a hardline stance on its control. The remark has raised eyebrows given Oman's traditionally neutral and cooperative stance with the U.S.
