Trump announced that all mines have been removed from the Strait of Hormuz, adding that any new mines placed in the strategic waterway will be destroyed.

Key declaration on Strait of Hormuz

The announcement covers the complete removal of mines from the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints for energy trade. Trump stated that any new mines placed in the strait will be destroyed.

Significance for maritime passage

The Strait of Hormuz is a vital corridor for global oil and gas shipments. The declaration addresses the security of this passage, with a direct warning against any future mining of the waterway.

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) accused President Donald Trump of using the Freedom 250 IndyCar race in Washington as a political spectacle to distract Americans from rising gasoline prices. The criticism drew a sharp rebuttal from veteran driver Graham Rahal.

Schiff wrote on X that Trump offers the race while citizens struggle with costs, calling it a self-aggrandizing distraction funded by taxpayers. Regular gasoline averaged about $4.10 a gallon last week, up from roughly $3.13 a year earlier. The Trump administration moved to end summer-blend gasoline requirements early to boost supply after the Iran war drove fuel costs higher. Trump recently said he would "never apologize" for gasoline above $4.

Rahal Defends Private Funding

Rahal pushed back against the spending claims. "No, no, Adam. He wanted you to notice and bask in the pride of being American," he wrote. Rahal emphasized that the event was privately funded, not government-sponsored, and drove thousands of visitors to the DC area, creating economic impact.

The funding structure involves multiple corporate sponsors. Penske Corp paid the vast majority of race costs, including track construction and road improvements, while Washington handled some repaving. Other sponsors included Boeing Co (NYSE: BA), Space Exploration Technologies Corp’s (NASDAQ: SPCX) Starlink, and Delta Air Lines Inc (NYSE: DAL).

Event Scale and Political Context

Trump created the Freedom 250 through a January executive order as part of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations. He and First Lady Melania Trump took a ceremonial lap before Trump waved the green flag. IndyCar reported the two-day event drew more than 215,000 spectators.

Schiff has repeatedly tied Trump’s policies to household costs, recently warning that the president’s Canada tariff fight would raise prices. Rahal countered that the race appealed across political lines, stating that hundreds of thousands of Americans, both blue and red, loved the event.