‘Disappointed’ Trump Warns He Will ‘Punish’ Houthis, Who Were ‘Smart and Professional’ — Until Now

President Donald Trump walks from Marine One to board Air Force One at Morristown Airport, Friday, May 22, 2026, in Morristown, N.J. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Donald Trump said Houthi rebels once acted “very smart” and “very professionally” during America’s ongoing conflict with Iran, but are now subject to “punishment” after attacking ships in the Red Sea.

On Thursday, the Houthis announced they struck two Saudi ships attempting to pass through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait off the western coast of Yemen.

According to a report from The Hill, the group also claimed to have forced “approximately 10 ships to retreat and return.”

The report read:

“The Armed Forces will continue their naval operations against the Saudi enemy and will persist in enforcing the ‘A siege for a siege’ equation,” they added. “We affirm to the Saudi enemy that any folly or aggression targeting our country will be met with large-scale operations deep within its territory, and the consequences will be dire for it, by Allah’s will and power.”

Later that morning, Trump said in a Truth Social post that he was “very disappointed” in the Houthis, adding:

A year ago the United States of America attacked, very powerfully, the Houthis, for their interference with commerce and trade, by shooting at ships. Since that time, and during our conflict with Iran, they have acted very responsibly. Unfortunately, now they are starting up again, shooting at two Saudi Arabian ships last night. Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if they do this again, the U.S. will hold Iran responsible, in that the Houthis are a Surrogate and/or Proxy of Iran, and major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis, themselves, who I am very disappointed with in that they have, until now, acted very professionally and smart. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP

Screenshot

The Houthis restricting passage through the strait presents yet another hurdle in the region for the Trump administration.

Energy prices had already risen sharply due to the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, and that trend has only continued with the Houthis’ actions in Yemen.

Earlier this week, Trump said the U.S. would “take care of it” if the Houthis followed through on threats to form a blockade in the Red Sea.

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!