Overview
- President Donald Trump said “Oman se comportera comme les autres ou alors il faudra les pulvériser” during a White House cabinet meeting that was reported on May 27, and the U.S. Department of State reposted the remark on X without correction.
- Multiple outlets and commentators say it is unclear whether Trump meant to name Iran rather than Oman, a possibility reinforced by other verbal errors he made in the same intervention.
- Oman is a longtime U.S. partner that provides military access and acts as a mediator with Tehran, so a public threat against Muscat carries unusual diplomatic weight.
- International media and NGOs condemned the comment as reckless and analysts say it illustrates the administration's growing reliance on military-forward rhetoric, while the White House has not issued a clarification.
- Watch for diplomatic fallout and regional security effects on the Strait of Hormuz, including how U.S. officials, Omani leaders, and regional actors respond in the coming days.