Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) threw his full support behind President Donald J. Trump’s decision to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, calling it the “right thing” to do during an interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”
The endorsement comes as the President ordered the United States Navy to begin an immediate blockade of the waterway, declaring that 21 hours of high-stakes nuclear negotiations in Pakistan ended without a deal because Iran refused to abandon its nuclear ambitions.
Donalds characterized the blockade as a “strategic decision” intended to allow the U.S. to “establish that control” over the volatile region. He specifically pointed to the President’s plan to have the Navy decommission Iranian mines.
“The president, I believe, is doing the right thing, trying to control the straits, possibly in order to open that up for international water, so you can have trade move freely, not just in that region, but for the rest of the world,” Donalds told NBC.
READ: “Blown To Hell”: Trump Orders Naval Blockade Of Strait Of Hormuz As Nuclear Talks Collapse
The move marks a major escalation following a marathon summit in Islamabad between Vice President JD Vance’s team and Iranian officials. Trump announced the shift to a “locked and loaded” footing on Truth Social, stating that while several minor points were agreed upon, Iran remained “unyielding” on the nuclear issue.
“Iran is unwilling to give up its nuclear ambitions!” Trump wrote. “All of those points don’t matter compared to allowing Nuclear Power to be in the hands of such volatile, difficult, unpredictable people.”
The President’s directive instructs the Navy to blockade any and all ships trying to enter or leave the Strait and to interdict any vessel in international waters that has paid a “toll” to Iran. Trump issued a stark warning: “Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!”
Earlier in the day, Vice President Vance spoke briefly to reporters, confirming the collapse of the negotiations.
Vance stated that the U.S. negotiated in “good faith” but could not secure an “affirmative commitment” that Iran would forgo the tools needed to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon. “We have made very clear what our red lines are,” Vance told the press. “They have chosen not to accept our terms.”
Vance confirmed he remained in constant communication with the President throughout the 21-hour window, speaking with him “a half dozen times, a dozen times” as the talks unfolded.
Following the briefing, which lasted just over three minutes, the administration pivoted back to military action to end what Trump described as “world extortion.”
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