President Donald Trump stated that the Strait of Hormuz is "open" on Sunday morning, abruptly cutting off an NBC News reporter who pressed him on the status of the vital waterway amid ongoing tensions with Iran. Trump, who was on the phone with "Meet the Press" anchor Kristen Welker, insisted on speaking only about the recent death of Senator Lindsey Graham.
"It's open and I don't want to talk about it because I want to honor the life of Lindsey Graham," Trump said, interrupting Welker's question about conflicting reports from Iran and U.S. Central Command. He reiterated a similar stance when CNN's Jake Tapper asked about the war with Iran, stating, "It's open as far as I'm concerned. Don't talk about it, talk about the reason you asked me to speak."
Despite his initial reluctance to discuss the situation, Trump provided some details to Welker, stating, "We bombed the hell out of them last night. They are very, very evil and sick people." He recounted an alleged deal with Iran that fell apart within an hour when the country launched a drone at a ship. "You people are sick, you're sick people," he added.
Senator Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally, died unexpectedly on Saturday night at the age of 71. Trump ordered flags at the White House to be flown at half-staff to honor the senator. Trump described Graham as "like a member of the family" and recalled a phone call with him on Saturday night regarding the SAVE America Act, a bill Graham co-sponsored that has faced hurdles in the Senate. Graham's office announced his death from a "brief and sudden illness."
Trump also shared his thoughts on Graham's legacy, referencing his defense of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during the 2018 confirmation hearings. Trump called it "an incredible display" and "an awesome golfing buddy" in a previous endorsement of Graham. Graham, who represented South Carolina since 2002, had been a consistent supporter of Trump's agenda and advised him on foreign policy matters, particularly concerning Russia and Iran. He had also been a staunch supporter of Ukraine.