this post was submitted on 12 Apr 2026
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[–] sturmblast@lemmy.world 4 points 21 hours ago

These morons....

[–] Murse@slrpnk.net 18 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Surely this time people will stop talking about the Epstein files...

[–] Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 2 points 1 day ago

especially when melania made a speech how she "wasnt involved in diddling kids,or helped diddle kids"

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[–] ryper@lemmy.ca 197 points 2 days ago (13 children)

"Effective immediately, the ​United States Navy, the Finest in ​the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING ‌any ⁠and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz," said Trump, who is strongly opposed to the ​idea of ​Iran charging ⁠ships a toll to pass through the strait.

"I have also ​instructed our Navy to seek and ​interdict ⁠every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. No one ⁠who ​pays an illegal toll ​will have safe passage on the high seas," he ​said.

Pretty sure what Trump is opposed to is him not getting a cut of the toll.

[–] floofloof@lemmy.ca 112 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Once again the whole world has to suffer because of Trump's insatiable ego and greed, and his bottomless stupidity. May he be gone soon.

[–] fartographer@lemmy.world 35 points 1 day ago

Oh good. Nazi pirates. How did we end up with a real life plot more stupid than Water World?

[–] KoboldCoterie@pawb.social 61 points 2 days ago

He did previously say that as the "winners" of the war, the US was entitled to collect that toll, basically. So, yeah, I think you're spot on.

[–] andrewrgross@slrpnk.net 42 points 1 day ago (1 children)

This is truly an April Fools-level move.

The US is closing the Strait? The generals couldn't open it, so Hegseth said, 'Okay! I've got it! We declare that WE'RE closing it, NOT THEM!'

How ... is this better?

[–] stickyprimer@lemmy.world 17 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Iran was allowing some ships through. The logic is that if it’s closed to the US it must be closed to everyone (it was not before).

Do I think this is a good move? No. Do I think Trump and Hegseth have three brain cells between them? No.

But it also isn’t hard to understand their angle here. It’s not better for anyone. But the idea is to make it worse for Iran than the previous phase, where they had control of the strait.

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[–] ThePantser@sh.itjust.works 18 points 1 day ago (1 children)

No one ⁠who ​pays an illegal toll ​will have safe passage on the high seas

Does that mean they are gonna attack anyone that paid? Also when he starts charging does that mean they will destroy any ships right after they pay?

[–] datendefekt@feddit.org 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

What I don't get is how are they going to prove that the ships paid toll? Especially if they are paid in crypto.

Oh, who am I fooling. They'll just harass anything coming through. Or maybe not. Maybe depending on which flag the ship flies.

[–] CileTheSane@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 day ago

They'll just stop any ship not coming to or from the US. Just like how ICE abducts everyone who isn't white enough, citizen or not.

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[–] JaumeI@programming.dev 131 points 2 days ago (4 children)

Isn't that... piracy? Not USAs waters, not USAs petrol...

[–] Pickleideas@lemmy.world 92 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Hasn't stopped them from stealing oil from Venezuela and Cuba

[–] JaumeI@programming.dev 9 points 1 day ago (6 children)

Sure it hasn't. But now they are ruining the pockets of the whole world.

[–] WolfmanEightySix@piefed.social 1 points 19 hours ago

They have been for a while.

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[–] flandish@lemmy.world 16 points 2 days ago (4 children)

no. it’s invasion and war.

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[–] finallymadeanaccount@lemmy.world 60 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Is it my imagination, or is that stretch of water and the water surrounding it not US territory, thus making what he wants to do (interdict) kind of ... piracy?

[–] Eric@lemmy.blahaj.zone 23 points 1 day ago

Blockading is considered an act of war

[–] Shellofbiomatter@lemmus.org 80 points 2 days ago (5 children)

Wasn't Iran already doing that before and wasn't the main goal to open it up again?

[–] magnue@lemmy.world 69 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Yeah but if they say it this way it sounds like they're in control of the situation

[–] Eril@feddit.org 9 points 1 day ago

It's so in a few days he can "re-open" the strait again, declaring that everything is back to normal: "No president ever opened as many straits as I did"

[–] mctoasterson@reddthat.com 19 points 2 days ago (10 children)

The idea being to choke off Iran's ability to use it at all. This kills their remaining income stream and also incents the Chinese and others who thought they had a workaround (the tolls) to instead put pressure on Iran.

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[–] Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 2 points 1 day ago

yes, trump is doing 2 things right now, try and pump and dump the markets and continued distraction from epstein files. given how bondi was replaced very quickly BY BLANCHE, and suddenly melania coming out of the woodwork to give a "i did not help diddle kids" speech.

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[–] GalacticSushi@piefed.blahaj.zone 37 points 1 day ago (3 children)

I think he's just pissed off that Iran is letting Chinese ships thorough. So now the question is whether Trump is stupid and deranged enough to attack any Chinese ships that ignore this illegal blockade, which would probably kick off World War 3 in earnest.

[–] redsand@infosec.pub 2 points 23 hours ago

Why do that when they can just sell bonds and watch Bessent have a stroke on TV

[–] NotSteve_@lemmy.ca 11 points 1 day ago

If it broke out in WW3 then I think most of the world's public support would be behind China. The US has always been a hostile bully but Americans generally kept it contained to poorer countries that didn't have as much of a voice. Now though...

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[–] crystalmerchant@lemmy.world 19 points 1 day ago

Boy it turns out that George Lucas sure was right about the importance of blockading a trade route

[–] whotookkarl@lemmy.dbzer0.com 41 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] Aceticon@lemmy.dbzer0.com 14 points 1 day ago (1 children)

What's next: America blowing up its own bases in the Middle East? Killing its own soldiers? Crashing its own planes?

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[–] friend_of_satan@lemmy.world 23 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Open the fucking strait you crazy bastard!

[–] Akh@lemmy.world 30 points 2 days ago (1 children)

He cant blockade something controlled by someone else who already shut it.

[–] FancyPantsFIRE@lemmy.world 22 points 1 day ago (1 children)

“You can’t quit, you’re fired!”

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[–] hemko@lemmy.dbzer0.com 25 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] Bluescluestoothpaste@sh.itjust.works 10 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] chatokun@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

(Apologies if you were just making a joke) It's an old but gold comic, and the object is just a device. Like a macguffin.

No i didn't know the origin but it's funny it still looks like a sea mine lol

[–] ShellMonkey@piefed.socdojo.com 30 points 2 days ago

He wants the money, that Iran wasn't charging before he invaded, for himself is as near I can figure. Master negotiator with a grand plan.

[–] redsand@infosec.pub 11 points 1 day ago
[–] roguetrick@lemmy.world 17 points 2 days ago

Jesus Christ. I certainly didn't have this on my rapidly flailing bingo card of the US punching itself in the face.

[–] orlyowl@piefed.ca 15 points 2 days ago

This is a terrifyingly ridiculous timeline we find ourselves in.

[–] tacoplease@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Notorious pirate Captain Jackoff Turkey

[–] BigMacHole@thelemmy.club 11 points 2 days ago

~~Open~~ Close the STRAIT!

-Trump!

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