WASHINGTON, DC — Amid rising fuel costs tied to the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, social media users have been buzzing over a rumor claiming that Iran is preparing to release audio of Donald Trump pleading for the vital waterway to be reopened.
The Rumor: Secret Voicemails from Trump
The speculation stems from a post on the platform X, which asserted that Iranian officials possess voicemails left by Donald Trump. According to the viral post, the audio allegedly features the former president alternating between begging, issuing threats, attempting bribery, and ultimately crying in an effort to get the Strait of Hormuz opened so gas prices would drop.
While the post quickly racked up tens of thousands of views, public reaction has been split, with some users treating the rumor as fact and others expressing immediate doubt.
The Truth: A Satirical Origin
As it turns out, the claim is entirely fabricated. There is no proof that Iran ever made such an announcement, and no official statements or press releases from the Iranian government or Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) media support the rumor.
Given the intense public focus on Middle Eastern conflicts and soaring fuel prices, an actual disclosure of this nature would instantly make headlines across every major news network worldwide.
Instead, the story can be traced directly back to “The Halfway Post,” a well-known parody account that explicitly labels its content as satire in its biography.
Trump Shifts Blame for High Fuel Costs
The viral satire emerged just as Trump himself began pushing a different narrative regarding the spike in gas prices, pointing the finger at domestic policies rather than the situation in the Persian Gulf.
Writing on Truth Social, Trump argued that the Strait of Hormuz is no longer the primary driver behind expensive gasoline. Instead, he blamed international refinery losses—such as those in Ukraine caused by Russian strikes—alongside the closure of domestic refineries in Democratic-led states like California.
With Brent crude staying north of $100 a barrel, motorists across the United States continue to grapple with high pump prices amid ongoing geopolitical tensions involving both Iran and Ukraine.