Trump Officials Dispute Shipping Data as Doubts Grow Over Hormuz Control Claims

White House officials are challenging widely reported data showing sharply reduced shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, arguing the real picture is stronger than current statistics suggest. The pushback comes as multiple data sources continue showing low vessel activity through the crucial waterway, numbers that appear to contradict President Trump’s repeated claims of total US control over the strait.

Energy Secretary Cites Higher Export Figures

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the government possesses the best available data, arguing that many private trackers undercount ships due to vessels moving through the region covertly. He put total Arabian Gulf energy exports, combining shipping and pipeline flows, at around 15 million barrels per day, a figure well above what independent trackers report and one he did not further explain despite requests for more detail.

Independent Tracking Tells a Different Story

Ship-tracking data from an independent service recorded just 14 crossings on Tuesday, far below pre-conflict levels of roughly 120 vessels daily. Of those crossings, most reportedly used a route approved by Iran, raising further questions about the president’s repeated claim that the US fully controls the waterway.

Energy Prices Climb as Tensions Persist

Gas prices have pushed above $4 per gallon, marking the latest calendar date this level has ever been reached, according to fuel price analysts. Officials have also floated the idea that the strait’s importance may fade over time as alternative pipeline infrastructure expands.