Fact Check: Is Trump's claim US imports ‘almost no oil’ via the Strait of Hormuz true?
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump, on Wednesday, during his address to the nation, claimed that the US imports almost no oil via the Strait of Hormuz. The president’s statement came as the conflict with Iran continues to escalate, and he attempted to downplay the impact of rising gas prices as the blockade by Iran continues. Let us fact-check the claim.
Claim: America imports almost no oil via the Hormuz Strait
In his speech on Wednesday, April 1, Trump said, “The United States imports almost no oil through the Hormuz Strait and won't be taking any in the future."
The remark comes despite seeking help from NATO allies to secure the Strait and subsequently threatening to leave the alliance amid their refusal to escalate concerns.
Fact Check: False, Energy Information Administration's data contradicts Trump's claim
However, as per the latest data published by the 2024 US Energy Information Administration (EIA), the US imported at least 0.5 million barrels of crude oil per day.
Post 2024, only the 2025 Q1 data is available on US crude imports via the Strait of Hormuz.
It shows that the import via the Strait decreased slightly to 400,000 barrels per day.
In fact, the import of crude via the Strait of Hormuz has significantly gone down since 2022.
According to the EIA, in 2022, the US imported 700,000 barrels of crude via the Strait, while in 2023, the number was the same as in 2024, at 0.5 million barrels per day.
Contrary to Trump’s claim, 0.5 million barrels per day represents about 7% of the US’s crude oil imports and roughly 2% of its total petroleum liquid imports.
Donald Trump downplays Hormuz risk amid rising fuel prizes
The war has affected several things, especially the oil supply that comes via the Hormuz Strait, a waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
Though Tehran does not have full authority over it, it controls the waterway with Oman.
But amid the crisis, Trump has asserted that America doesn't need oil via the Hormuz Strait because it “has plenty of gas” despite the price going $4 for the first time since 2022.
He claimed, “Many Americans have been concerned to see the recent rise in gasoline prices here at home."
"This short-term increase has been entirely the result of the Iranian regime launching deranged terror attacks against commercial oil tankers and neighboring countries that have nothing to do with the conflict,” Trump added.
