Bret Baier Undercuts Trump’s Iran Claim: ‘Traffic Has Slowed, Really, To a Trickle’

Fox News anchor Bret Baier undercut President Donald Trump’s baseless claim that the U.S. “totally” controls the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway through which 20% of the world’s oil flows.

On Tuesday, Trump spoke with reporters and addressed the strait, which Iran effectively closed after the U.S. and Israel launched the current war on the country in February. But somehow, the president insisted the U.S. has it all under control.

“We totally control the Strait of Hormuz,” he said, reality be damned. “We have control over it. Nobody else. Only us. Our navy is unbelievable, and things are going great for our country.”

On Wednesday’s Special Report, Baier informed Fox viewers that Trump’s claim has no basis in fact.

“Let’s start with the Strait of Hormuz,” he began. Now, this is a narrow passage between Iran and Oman. It’s the gateway between the Persian Gulf and the open ocean. And look at what normally passes through here.”

Baier then explained:

Total oil flow averaged nearly 21 million barrels per day in the first half of last year, equivalent to about 20% of global petroleum liquids consumption. Usually, about one-fifth of the world’s liquefied natural gas trade moves through there as well. Despite President Trump claiming total control over the strait, traffic has slowed, really, to a trickle if you look at this.

Before the conflict, more than 100 vessels a day were crossing. Monday, eight vessels crossed. Yesterday, 14. Now, those are constraints, and it’s changing the government’s energy outlook. The Energy Information Administration raised its forecast for the average price of a gallon of gasoline over the full year by 14 cents. You can see right here. It also raised its 2026 forecast for Brent crude from $82 a barrel to $87 a barrel.

And there’s another problem building as well. The International Energy Agency says global crude oil inventories fell by 2.2 million barrels a day in July. It expects a global supply deficit of 1.8 million barrels a day in the third quarter. That’s more than double its previous estimate.

Hours before Baier’s report, Trump fired off a Truth Social post in which he again claimed the U.S. controls the strait and thanked Allah.

“Their country is ‘shot,'” the president wrote. “All they have is FAKE NEWS and 300% INFLATION, and getting worse! Iran is all talk and no action, the Bully of the Middle East No Longer. Praise be to Allah!”

Watch above via Fox News.

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