California Gov. Gavin Newsom challenged President Donald Trump's assertion that all mines have been removed from the Strait of Hormuz. The governor's press office questioned the validity of the claim amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Key declaration on Strait of Hormuz

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. He stated on August 18 that water mines were "removed" or "detonated" and that the strait was open.

Political backlash and verification issues

Gov. Newsom slammed the president for claiming the waterway was free of mines. On Tuesday, the California Governor's Press Office shared a screenshot of Trump's Truth Social post from August 18. The post asked if Trump was lying when he previously said the mines were cleared.

The controversy arises as Iran vowed that not a single drop of oil would flow through the Strait of Hormuz, slamming Washington's economic measures. Vice President JD Vance had earlier claimed oil was moving through the strait and backed Trump's economic pressure on Tehran. Energy Secretary Chris Wright also stated the U.S. was aiding oil movement in the region.

Geopolitical context and diplomatic efforts

The declaration addresses security at one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints for energy trade. Trump issued new economic measures against Iran, warning countries trading with Tehran could face backlash.

Iran and Oman have begun discussions on a temporary navigational corridor through the Strait. They are also exploring a joint project to clear mines from the waterway.

What the Numbers Show

The divergence between official U.S. claims of a fully cleared strait and Iran's vow to block oil flow highlights significant uncertainty in maritime passage security. While administration officials assert oil is moving, the ongoing diplomatic talks between Iran and Oman suggest operational challenges remain unresolved.

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.