Trump Gives Iran Until Tuesday to Open Strait of Hormuz, Threatens to Strike Power Plants and Bridges

President Donald Trump threatened to strike Iranian power plants and bridges if Iran doesn't reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday.

Trump's Threats: "Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!!" Trump posted to Truth Social on Easter morning. "Open the F***in' Strait, you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah." He later specified, "Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time!" On Monday, Iran rejected Trump's ceasefire proposal in pursuit of "a permanent end to the war… with guarantees that we won't be attacked again," according to Iranian diplomat Mojtaba Ferdousi Pour.

Critics' Responses: Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) posted to X, "If I were in Trump's Cabinet, I would spend Easter calling constitutional lawyers about the 25th Amendment," to revoke Trump's presidential power. Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), with support from House Oversight Committee Democrats, similarly stated, "The 25th Amendment exists for a reason," suggesting Trump's agenda in Iran would include war crimes if carried out. 

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For Context: Trump issued a similar threat to Iran in late March, after the country blocked the Strait of Hormuz, which facilitates about 20% of the world's liquefied natural gas transportation. He said the US would "obliterate" Iranian power plants if the country didn't open the strait within 48 hours. Iran counter-threatened both military and economic retaliation, and Trump delayed his threats pending reported peace talks. 

How The Media Covered It: News media across the political spectrum highlighted the acerbity of Trump's comments. Daily Caller (Right bias) called them an "Easter Sunday threat" in its headline, and BBC (Center) referred to them as "expletive-laden." ABC News (Lean Left) furthered the narrative by quoting Iranian official Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, who said, "... Our whole region is going to burn because you insist on following [Israel Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu's commands… You won't gain anything through war crimes." US Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt countered such criticisms last week, saying the Trump administration and US military "will always act within the confines of the law."

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