The sound you heard is the rattle of millions of pearls being clutched to media chests. The last time Donald Trump threatened to completely destroy the IRGC “civilization,” we heard the same sound, only to watch the Iranian regime remnant call for a ceasefire. Today, they have openly violated that ceasefire by attacking a United Arab Emirates oil facility with four cruise missiles and shooting at several commercial ships, damaging at least one.
Trump had warned Iran not to interfere with commercial shipping when he launched Project Freedom. After today’s attacks, Trump told Fox’s Trey Yingst that the US can and will return to full combat operations if Iran continues its attacks on American allies and international shipping. This time, Trump warned again that he’s prepared to use all assets to blow Iran “off the face of the earth.”
Will this get Ahmad Vahidi’s attention again?
NEW: President Trump tells @TreyYingst if Iran targets U.S. ships in the Strait of Hormuz, they’ll be “blown off the face of the earth.” pic.twitter.com/h2aluzBKSC
— FOX & Friends (@foxandfriends) May 4, 2026
US President Donald Trump threatened Iran would be “blown off the face of the Earth” if US vessels were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz during an interview with FOX News on Monday.
“We have more weapons and ammunition at a much higher grade than we had before,” Trump said. “We have the best equipment. We have stuff all over the world. We have these bases all over the world. They’re all stocked up with equipment. We can use all of that stuff, and we will, if we need it.”
Trump followed up his interview with Yingst on Truth Social. His warning on the social media site is more ambiguous, but hints that the ceasefire status will change before the Pentagon briefing tomorrow:
Iran has taken some shots at unrelated Nations with respect to the Ship Movement, PROJECT FREEDOM, including a South Korean Cargo Ship. Perhaps it’s time for South Korea to come and join the mission! We’ve shot down seven small Boats or, as they like to call them, “fast” Boats. It’s all they have left. Other than the South Korean Ship, there has been, at this moment, no damage going through the Strait. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Caine, will have a News Conference tomorrow morning. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP
One reason that Iran may have launched missiles and drones today: the US claims it has cleared a path through Iran’s mine-laying operations. Right now, only an exit lane through the Strait of Ho has been cleared, but the US Navy plans to open an entry lane soon:
The U.S. used underwater drones to clear a path for commercial ships to exit the Strait of Hormuz in recent weeks, according to U.S. Central Command. Centcom commander Adm. Brad Cooper spoke about the “low-observable capability” during a call with reporters on Monday.
“We used our own military technology in a unique way to clear a free lane that’s not obstructed in any way, shape or form through the strait,” Cooper said.
To encourage ships to use the path, the U.S. kicked off its freedom of navigation effort, known as Project Freedom, by moving U.S.-flagged ships through the waterway first. By doing so, the U.S. assumed the risk and set the example for other vessels, Cooper said.
The sudden move toward the Strait may have panicked Vahidi and the IRGC into using threats to keep ships bottled up in the Persian Gulf. Trump’s warning makes the existential stakes of that choice clear. Trump’s not alone in this warning, either; Benjamin Netanyahu spent today briefing Israel’s cabinet on the developments, and the IDF warned that their posture has not changed since before the ceasefire:
Despite an Iranian attack on the United Arab Emirates and Oman on Monday night, a senior IDF official said that there was still no change to Israel’s home front rules.
According to the official, “The IDF is following the situation and is at a high level of readiness.”
“We emphasize that there are no changes to the home front rules,” the official said.
Further, the IDF official stated, “Our air defense systems and attack capabilities are prepared at a high level, which is something that has not changed since the ceasefire decision.”
The decision to target the UAE may be Vahidi’s way of keeping the escalation limited. If Israel detects a ballistic missile coming its way, all ceasefire bets are off for both Iran and Lebanon. Trump apparently wants to give Vahidi a moment to rethink his approach, but it doesn’t sound like it will matter much. Darkness will fall around Iran soon, and the decision mau have already been made … by Vahidi.
Editor’s Note: Thanks to President Trump and his administration’s bold leadership, we are respected on the world stage, and our enemies are being put on notice.
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