Anderson Cooper stunned after Trump threatens to ‘blow up’ key US ally Oman

WASHINGTON, DC: CNN anchor Anderson Cooper reacted with disbelief after President Donald Trump warned that Oman would need to ‘behave’ during ongoing Middle East tensions or the US could “blow ’em up,” despite Oman being a longtime American ally in the region.

The remarks came during a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, May 27, as Trump discussed the growing crisis surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, the vital shipping route that carries roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply.

Anderson Cooper highlights Oman’s role as key US ally

During Wednesday night’s broadcast of ‘AC360’ on CNN, Cooper expressed visible surprise while discussing Trump’s remarks.

“Again, Oman is an ally,” Cooper reacted.

“Gives access to air bases and a port to American forces. And if you think the president’s statement about blowing up Oman was a slip of the tongue, the State Department posted that clip with the president making the threat on social media not long after he said it.”

He then pointed out that Oman provides strategic access to military facilities and logistical support for American operations in the Middle East.

The CNN anchor also highlighted that the State Department later reposted the president’s remarks online, suggesting the comments were not simply an offhand mistake or verbal slip.

A Fox News poll released last week shows that 64% of Americans believe attacking Iran was the “wrong decision.”

Meanwhile, 65% disapprove of Trump’s handling of the issue.

“I don’t care about the midterms,” he said. “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. I’m doing that for the world.”

Trump doubles down as Iran tensions continue

The latest comments also reflected Trump’s increasingly aggressive rhetoric toward countries involved in negotiations surrounding the Gulf crisis.

During a cabinet meeting Wednesday morning, the president was asked about a New York Times report that Iran discussed possibly using Oman in its ongoing tolling scheme in the vital Strait of Hormuz, which Iran closed after the US and Israel launched the ongoing war on the country in February. Some 20% of the world's oil passes through the waterway.

“Nobody’s gonna control it,” Trump said of the strait.

“We’re gonna watch over it. We’ll watch over it, but nobody’s gonna control it. That’s part of the negotiation that we have. They would like to control it. Nobody’s gonna control it. It’s international waters.”

For good measure, the president added, “And Oman will behave just like everybody else, or we’ll have to blow ’em up. They understand that. They’ll be fine.”

The administration has argued that protecting navigation through the Strait of Hormuz remains a core American national security interest because of the region’s importance to global oil markets and international shipping.

Trump separately dismissed concerns about the political fallout from the conflict, even as polls show growing public skepticism toward military escalation with Iran.