Energy Secretary Chris Wright gave a confusing answer when asked directly why the Strait of Hormuz is still effectively closed, even though the Trump administration claims it was fully prepared for the ongoing conflict. The exchange happened during an interview on Meet the Press and quickly went viral.
Host Kristen Welker asked Wright directly, “If you were prepared, why is the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed right now?” Wright’s answer was short: “Because it’s right near the Iranian shoreline.” Many people found this response puzzling, since the Strait of Hormuz being close to Iran is simply a well-known geographical fact.
According to Mediaite, Wright went on to say that the world is currently “abundantly supplied with oil and energy.” He also said the administration “knew there would be a short-term disruption in energy flows.” He then criticised Chuck Schumer, calling his comments “foolish,” and said his mind was boggled by anyone trying to “undermine the United States in the midst of a world-changing conflict.”
The Secretary stayed confident despite growing signs the conflict was not fully planned for
Wright remained positive about how the conflict is going, saying the mission was “carefully planned out” and has been “superbly executed.” He added that on the other side of this conflict, “we’ll be in a much better place,” and predicted that “the greatest driver of terrorism in the world, the greatest threat to global energy supplies will be defanged.”
He acknowledged that “we have disruption to get there,” but promised a “much, much better place in the not-too-distant future.” Trump has also made headlines recently for claiming it is a great honor to kill Iranians, a statement that drew widespread attention.
The interview comes as the Iran war enters its third week. The conflict has already resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. servicemembers. A preliminary military investigation also found that the U.S. was responsible for a strike on an elementary school that killed at least 160 children.
Attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz have pushed up energy prices and unsettled the stock market, making things economically harder for many people. President Trump and his administration have been consistently critical of media outlets reporting on the full impact of the war.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth complained last week that reporting on troop deaths was meant to “make the president look bad.” He also loudly called for positive coverage from what he described as a “patriotic press corps.”
President Trump has been especially sensitive about the oil tanker attacks, which many reporters have pointed out do not appear to have been adequately prepared for. The administration is also facing pushback from allies, with Trump threatening the UK over rejecting the Iran war, adding to the ongoing debate about whether the administration was truly ready for this conflict.
Published: Mar 16, 2026 01:42 pm