Episode 5346: Strait Of Hormuz, Who Is In Control

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Bannon’s War Room

Episode 5346: Strait Of Hormuz, Who Is In Control

Date: May 4, 2026
Host: Steve Bannon
Featured Guests: Captain James Fennell, Admiral Cooper, Eric Bolling, Danielle Buck, Ben Harnwell

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Main Theme

This episode focuses intensively on the escalating crisis around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint in global oil shipping. The panel discusses recent U.S. military actions meant to break an Iranian blockade, the global and domestic consequences of disrupted oil flows, implications for energy markets (including China’s renewable strategy), U.S. alliances, and the resulting geopolitical tensions, particularly with European partners.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Challenges and Realities of Blockading the Strait of Hormuz

• Captain Fennell opens by describing the logistical challenge and partial inefficacy of maritime blockades over such a long coastline, noting history always involves “leakage” (00:03).
• “Blockades are inherently very difficult to maintain. This is a thousand miles plus of coastline that we’re blockading. It’s an act of war, by the way, and there’s always going to be leakage.” – Fennell (00:08)
• Fennell summarizes that the White House is now weighing several military options to counteract the situation, including direct action against Iranian leadership, oil infrastructure, and potentially militarily reopening Hormuz (00:50).

2. China’s Strategic Gains Amid Crisis

• Eric Bolling and Danielle Buck discuss how China is poised to benefit, having stockpiled oil and developed renewables, making them less vulnerable to oil shocks.
• “China is going to come out of this crisis a big winner...they’ve shielded themselves to a large extent from this oil shock.” – Bolling (01:41)
• Buck emphasizes, “They didn’t want to be at the mercy of global oil markets. And they’re making all these technologies and then they’re going to sell them to the rest of the world.” (01:50)

3. U.S. Military Action: Operation Project Freedom

• Admiral Cooper outlines President Trump’s recent directive (“Operation Project Freedom”) deploying U.S. Navy destroyers to reopen shipping lanes, a decision following top-level briefings (06:33).
• CENTCOM reported that U.S. destroyers successfully escorted out at least two previously trapped U.S. merchant ships (06:50).
• “We have successfully demonstrated that the myth...control of the Strait is a fallacy.” – Admiral Cooper (07:14)
• Cooper details changes to shipping lanes: a new, safer route closer to Oman with coordinated assistance from Oman (08:29).

4. Iranian Response and Propaganda

• Bannon and Cooper highlight how Iranian and some Western media exaggerated Iranian control, claiming minefields or ship attacks, with U.S. military fact-checks later debunking these claims (20:06).
• “None of our ships have been hit. Which is the pattern for this last two months. The Iranian regime has put out several reports...fake news.” – Admiral Cooper (20:06)

5. Impact on Oil Markets and U.S. Economy

• Eric Bolling provides an insider’s take on the oil market response, noting rising prices amidst tension and that despite U.S. reassurances, only a trickle of ships are moving (12:36, 22:40).
• “We’re approaching all time highs in both gasoline and diesel. On a national average basis, we’re only 50 cents away in gasoline and 20 cents away in diesel.” – Bolling (13:29)
• Discussion of the difference between claimed “armed naval escorts” and the reality of cleared lanes, insurance, and industry cooperation (22:40).

6. America’s Allies and European Response

• Ben Harnwell from Rome discusses how U.S. efforts are perceived in Europe, especially as Italy and other EU states seek their own approach or a UN mandate—with criticism of U.S. leadership (33:16).
• Harnwell remarks on U.S. Senator Rubio’s visit being characterized by Italian media as a “groveling apology tour.”
• “It’s a groveling, humiliating, prostrated, groveling tour by little Marco to Italy, to Rome. That’s how it’s being presented in the Italian press.” – Harnwell (34:31)

7. Debate: Free Market vs. America First

• Bannon presses Bolling on why U.S. exports record barrels of oil as domestic prices soar, questioning the “free market” rationale amidst national hardship (27:41).
• “There is no such thing as the free market. The entire system’s rigged top to bottom against the little guy, and nothing is better to show that than what’s happening right now.” – Bannon (27:41)

8. Changing Security Dynamics and NATO Burden-Sharing

• With U.S. military engagement intensifying, Cooper stresses need for NATO and international partners’ support—U.S. can’t maintain presence indefinitely (32:50).

9. Broader Economic and Social Impacts

• Discussion that the Strait of Hormuz crisis isn’t just about oil; it threatens global fertilizer trade, food prices, and American farmers (14:14).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Iranian threat:
  “The ineptitude and the impotence of the Iranians is going to be put on display now.” – Admiral Cooper (09:41)
• On propaganda:
  “It is a form of propaganda, cognitive warfare, information warfare.” – Admiral Cooper (20:06)
• On market reality:
  “Tank rates are triple what they were before the conflict started.” – Bolling (22:40)
• On U.S.-European tension:
  “Why are we sending 14 million barrels to bail these guys out...they have the gall to do that.” – Bannon (37:30)
• On American celebration:
  “America is a beacon of hope to the whole world.” – Danielle Buck (46:24)

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Important Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Topic | |---|---| | 00:03 | Captain Fennell on difficulty of blockading Hormuz / White House military options
| 01:41 | Bolling and Buck: China as a winner, renewables, global dependency shifts
| 06:33 | Admiral Cooper: Launch of Operation Project Freedom, U.S. Navy action
| 08:29 | Technical details: New shipping lane, Oman assistance, naval coverage
| 12:36 | Eric Bolling: Oil market responses, price spikes
| 18:53 | Cooper & Bannon: Proving Iranian threats are “information warfare”
| 22:40 | Bolling: Realities of shipping traffic, industry adaptation
| 33:16 | Ben Harnwell: European perspective and diplomatic tensions
| 38:05 | Fierce debate on “America First” vs. “free market” oil exports
| 40:06 | Cooper: Assessment of Iranian ability to disrupt the strait going forward
| 46:24 | Danielle Buck: Patriot Mobile, American civic pride event recap

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Episode Flow & Tone

• Tone: Urgent, combative, skeptical of official and media narratives, with an undercurrent of “America First” populism.
• Language: Direct, unsparing, sometimes sarcastic—for example, calling out media as “lying,” referring to EU partners as “deadbeats.”
• Style: Frequent interruptions for clarifications, strong opinions, and an assertive back-and-forth between host and guests.

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For Listeners

This episode delivers a granular, technical account of the Hormuz crisis, cutting through official and media depictions with direct, expert analysis. The show’s style is confrontational and highly opinionated, with a focus on challenging consensus narratives and highlighting American—and especially working-class—interests. The interplay of military, market, and diplomatic insights provides a layered understanding of what’s at stake in both the Gulf and in Washington.

Useful For:

• Those tracking global oil and shipping crises
• Listeners interested in U.S. strategy and geopolitics
• Industry watchers monitoring supply chain and market responses
• Anyone concerned with U.S.-Europe political tensions and the populist critique of globalization

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End of Summary.

Transcript

[Steve Bannon]

What is your sense?

[Captain James Fennell]

I've sailed the straight of Hormuz close to 100 times as a sea captain and I have participated in several blockades around the world. My conclusion is blockades are inherently very difficult to maintain. This is a thousand miles plus of coastline that we're blockading. It's an act of war, by the way, and there's always going to be leakage. Think the movie Gone with the Wind, Rhett Butler showing up with beautiful cigars and silk scarves from Paris through the Lincoln blockade of the American South. Having said all that, I agree with my good friend Anne Marie. Congratulations on the lsc, by the way. And I would, I would simply add, I think in the White House they are now starting to look at additional military options because this tale of two blockades is going to be difficult to sustain. So to conclude, Fareed, I think the President's looking at a probably a package of three different military options. One, go after more leadership, try and take out some of the intransigent members, the Revolutionary Guard. Number two, perhaps go after the oil infrastructure. Quite risky, could lead to retaliation. And third, let's call it strategic preparation of the Strait of Hormuz in case you have to open it militarily, which may be the next move on the chessboard.

[Eric Bolling]

Totally out of hope.

[Steve Bannon]

I think you could have see a

[Eric Bolling]

president, Republican or Democrat in 2029 pick up the pieces just given that we

[Steve Bannon]

have so many more friends.

[Eric Bolling]

But look, I think China is going

[Steve Bannon]

to come out of this crisis a

[Eric Bolling]

big winner because all these other countries in the world, even our allies, are

[Steve Bannon]

going to embrace clean energy technologies, batteries,

[Eric Bolling]

solar, which they're much ahead of, all

[Danielle Buck]

of which they're making. It's not, it's not just that they've invested in them. And so they've shielded themselves to a large extent from this oil shock. You know, they also had huge stockpiles of oil, but they also made huge investments in renewables precisely because they wanted that energy resilience. They didn't want to be, you know, at the mercy of global oil markets. And they're making all of these technologies and then they're going to sell them to the rest of the world.

[Eric Bolling]

That's right. And as our allies embrace them, no matter who the president is in 2029, they're going to be a lot more dependent on China.

[Steve Bannon]

This is the primal scream of a dying regime. Pray for our enemies, because we're going medieval on these people. There's not got a free shot. All these networks lying about, the people, the people have had a belly full of it. I know you don't like hearing that. I know you try to do everything in the world to stop that, but you're not going to stop it. It's going to happen.

[Eric Bolling]

And where do people like that go to share the big lie? MAG I wish in my soul, I wish that any of these people had a conscience.

[Steve Bannon]

Ask yourself, what is my task and what is my purpose? If that answer is to save my

[Captain James Fennell]

country, this country will be saved.

[Eric Bolling]

War ROOM here's your host, Stephen K. Banner.

[Steve Bannon]

Okay, let's it's Monday for May, year of alert 2026 6. Let's now turn to the war Axios's lead story. I think I sent that and if we can get that this is about President Trump wants some action. Obviously, President Trump is quite frustrated and it says this in the Axios piece today. And hey, you know, the White House deems to use Axios as kind of their platform for leaking information because none of these stories are ever denied. It sound like a very frustrated President Trump over the weekend with his national security advisors on trying to force the action in the Persian Gulf. One of the reasons we're going to try to have Jim Rickards on later in the week in the interim, you can get always make sure you go to rickardswarroom.com we do a special on his strategic intelligence newsletter. If you haven't gotten it, you haven't read it. You ought to take a shot at it. CEOs chairman throughout the world. Read it. Jim's one of the best geopolitical and capital markets thinkers. Plus he's got a background in intelligence. This is why he's been around forever. Very wise and smart man. Rickardswarroom.com that's the that's the landing page. You get strategic intelligence based upon predictive analytics. He also throws in a free book, money GPT, about fiat currency and gold. Haven't heard that before. Chapter four also walks you through a nightmare scenario for artificial intelligence being in the command structure with no humans on on weapons capabilities, particularly nuclear weapons. That one will keep you up at night, as it should about artificial intelligence. Go check that out. I've asked Captain Fennell to be here. So Captain Fennell, coming out of the national security over the weekend, President Trump is I want some action. I want to figure out how to do this. I want to force people's hands here. I've got a blockade, but they still have Hormuz. And it was a little uncertain what this announcement is. We're now going to Escort ships of these, these innocent nations that have vessels there because as Bolling will tell you, I think the average was 130. There's still just four or five ships going through when you look at the official calculator. So tell us, in fact, what do you think this national security meeting was about? What were the alternatives Admiral Cooper gave the President and the President's looking for something to force the action. And finally, the mainstream media is waking up to the fact that this is all inextricably linked to the Chinese Communist Party. Of course they've got the pom poms out for the ccp. The CCP leadership is so brilliant and so far ahead of the Americans and are thinking of sustainability. I noticed, Captain Fennell, they fail to mention that the ccp, I think, opens a coal fire plant with no clean technology once a month to power the power of the Chinese economy. Sir.

[Admiral Cooper]

Well, Steve, I think we need to first start off with just an acknowledgment that since President Trump announced on Sunday Operation Project Freedom, which was clearly the result, I believe, of the briefings that Admiral Cooper and the Secretary of War gave to the President late last week on options that the President decided to say, yeah, based on the evidence and the facts that we have, let's go ahead and open this up. And so CENTCOM announced that they were going to start Project Freedom with. They said we have numbers of DDGs, we have 100 plus land based, sea based aircraft, we have multi domain unmanned platforms. And now in this today, they said it would start this morning out in the, in the Middle East. And we already have, just in the last hour from centcom, a report that destroyers, US Navy Arleigh Burke guided missile destroyers have transited the Strait of Hormuz, are operating in the Arabian Gulf and have already U.S. forces already escorted out and gotten two of the, I think five U.S. flag merchant ships that have been stuck in the Gulf since this crisis started. They are now transited. Those merchant vessels have transited the Strait of Hormuz and are out. So we have successfully demonstrated that the, the myth. Hang on. Control of the Strait is not as a fallacy.

[Steve Bannon]

Hang on, slow down. I think the Iranians also said that the, that they fired, there's some report they fired on a couple of these. I want to go back, just hit rewind. And of course, yeah, just keep the, just keep the nomenclature. Right. And I realize politically they want to say Arabian Gulf, but I think historically it's been called the Persian Gulf. So in the Persian Gulf we now have how many how many destroyers have transited the Strait of Hormuz and are operating in the Persian Gulf?

[Admiral Cooper]

The CENTCOM report noted that there were destroyers. They didn't say two. So you'll see in the press two, but that doesn't mean there are two. So they listed multiple. So we can assume at least two, maybe more. And they have escorted out or assisted the removal of two US Flag merchant ships out of the Gulf, which they claim and they noted as the Arabian Gulf. And I use that term purposefully because that's the nomenclature that the US Government is using today. And they got them out of the Strait of Hormuz. And what this means is is. And they also sent out what they call an NCAGS advisory, which is the Naval Cooperation and Guide for Shipping announcement that came out from NAVCENT earlier this morning or late last night and said the US has established an enhanced security area to support the Strait of Hormuz transit south of the traffic separation scheme. So the old traffic separation scheme that you knew and I knew that went through the center of the Strait of Hormuz. The United States has said we've established a new one. It's south of that, it's closer to Oman. And Oman will assist you getting out on VHF channel 16. And we're going to start seeing ships come out and there are somewhere around Some estimates say 2,000, but probably around 800 to 900 vessels that have been stuck in the Gulf throughout this crisis. And when all those ships start making the rush towards the door, it's going to demonstrate to the world that we have been hoodwinked by the Iranians. There are no mines there. And Admiral Cooper and the Secretary of War wouldn't have gone to the President and said let's do this if they thought there were mines there. Now we have again some number of U.S. navy warships have gone through the strait through this new lane, haven't been hit. Two commercial flagged US Merchants have gone out at least where there may be more. Since I've been talking to you and I think what we're going to see is that the ineptitude and the impotence of the Iranians is going to be put on display now. Now there are reports even I've seen in the last hour that maybe Iranians are going to attack the uae. We'll see what happens. But in terms of the strait, once that rush starts, it's going to demonstrate that these ships can get out and I think that'll breathe break the logjam and it will change the dynamic.

[Steve Bannon]

This Is the direct challenge to if they control it from the cliffs and from the landward side of in Persia, if that group of pirates there actually control things or not. Because this will force the action if the United States Navy and these destroyers are able to escort or to open that sea lane that's closer to Oman. Right. That's a direct challenge to these pirates who right now have been charging what a million or $2 million a vessel.

[Admiral Cooper]

Correct, Right. I mean the Iranians may have had hoodwink people to go through the their new lane that they put between Kesham and Laric island which was within almost 12 nautical miles of the Iranian coast. Well that may be fine but now it's on the other side, 21 miles away and the Iranians are going to have a hard time sending mosquito fast boats down there or drones without them being blown out of the water. So the only outstanding issue is anti ship cruise missiles if there are any left. And they will be shooting into the blind because they don't have any surface to surface to search radars to be able to guide those missiles. So I think at this point the Iranians are going to be broken on this issue. So now we need to look for where are they going to break, where are they going to apply pressure in a different domain or a different area geographically.

[Steve Bannon]

Yeah, keep that, keep that map up. Denver, thank you very much for bringing that up. Let's get Eric Bolling in here. Eric, talk to us about what was the response over the weekend for the oil markets and then after this announcement and now the implementation of the President's his selecting this strategy from Admiral Cooper and the team at centcom. Sir,

[Eric Bolling]

very quiet over the weekend. In fact going into last night when the oil market started to trade again, 6pm Eastern almost unchanged on the day which is unheard of given the amount of tension and in two directional possibilities going on right now. This morning we woke up oil was 5% higher, was 100 and $506 a barrel. WTI Brent moved to the July contract so it was 112 which translated to a June contract. The WTI version will be about 117, 118 again a $12 differential between the West Texas Intermediate and the Brent. I will tell you that here's one of the biggest problems we see right now. Steve, I would like to get to what the captain was addressing but right now we have a $4 40, almost 46 cents per gallon pump price across the country. National average that's a buck 30 higher than a year ago. Diesel is the big problem, 581 right now, $2.10 higher than a year ago. We're approaching all time highs in both gasoline and diesel. On a national average basis, we're only 50 cents away in gasoline and 20 cents away in diesel. That's a huge drag on the economy. The the UAE is now out of opec. Allegedly, we'll believe when we see it. But the rest of the members of OPEC pledged 188,000 barrels now a day, which increase in production, which seems like a lot until you do the math on it, that comes to about 167 seconds of global use of oil. So what they did is purely just house dress, you know, just putting lipstick on the pig, so to speak.

[Steve Bannon]

Hang on one second. Hang on a second. We'll come back and get all of it. Remember, America runs on diesel. America runs on diesel. We're going to break it all down. 800 to 2,000 ships in the Persian Gulf. I love it. The Arabian Gulf, the North Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman in the Persian Gulf center of geopolitics right now. And also change in world's capital markets. Short commercial break. Back with Captain James Fennell. Eric Bolling in the war room, Everyone's focus on how the conflict in the Middle east is raising oil prices. But there's another grim reality to this contention. Oil isn't the only resource being constrained. About one third of global fertilizer trade happens through this region. And with spring planting season on top of us, American farmers are sounding the alarm with some saying they can't afford to plant their fields. When one piece of the supply chain gets hit this hard, you know what comes next? Higher fruit prices, reduced availability, maybe even panic buying. That's why having an emergency food supply and at home makes so much sense. And that's where our friends at my Patriot Supply come in. Right [e-mail] that is preparewithbannon.com we've set up an entire just site for the war room posse. You go to preparewithbannon.com that's all one word. Preparewithbannon.com you get a three month emergency food supply. Don't include a free mega protein Upgrade. An incredible $200 bonus you don't want to miss. It's a simple way to protect your family from whatever comes next. Go to preparewithbannon.com that is preparewithbannon.com to get your emergency food supply today. That's preparewithbannon.com do it today. Go check it out.

[Eric Bolling]

War room here's your host, Stephen K. Band.

[Steve Bannon]

Take your phone out. Text Bannon B A N N O N 989-898. Get the ultimate guide for investing in Golden Pressure Metal and Age of Trump. Do it today and talk to Philip Patrick and their team about why you should consider having physical gold in your portfolio as a hedge against the turbulence of capital and financial markets, and particularly gold, the decreasing purchasing power of the United States dollar, which is in back of the basically backbone of the Global Financial System. 98 Bannon at 989-898. Check it out today. Do it and talk to Philip Patrick. That's what you need to do is get to Philip Patrick and his team who are available. We make sure all of our sponsors make sure their top people are available to you guys 247 because you write that and you got a ton of political muscle as seen by this weekend. That's not lost on people. Why do you think we got all these free deals? People want access to you because they understand you deliver. We get back to bowling in a second. But Captain Fennell Clausewitz taught us right because of his study the Napoleonic wars and Napoleon about the the center of gravity of battle and the importance of initiative and momentum. Clearly, this battle with the or war with the Persians shifted after Netanyahu hit the storage facilities in Tehran. And I think that first Saturday of the war and then shifted when the Israelis hit the gas field that is joint owned by Qatar and the Persians, but managed by Qatar. And still I think part of it, 17% of it's out of commission for a couple of years. They've had the initiative since then. Do you believe as Admiral Cooper ran through the alternatives of President Trump, this was a way to seize back the initiative to send the Navy in. The blockade is working. Obviously, the Chinese are hurting from it. You know, our allies get out. Nobody else does. But to actually take the blockade and go into the Persian Gulf itself and force the action and prove beyond any doubt that the Persians are a paper tiger when it comes to shutting down the Strait of Hormuz. Sir.

[Admiral Cooper]

That's my assessment, Steve. I agree with that. I think that we've been hearing for the last 60 days about that there were mines, there were drones, there were missiles, there was all kind of Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz. And so we have now proven, at least today for the second time, we've put destroyers, US Navy warships inside through the Strait of Hormuz into the Gulf. And now we have reports, verified reports, that at least two US Flagged merchant Ships have been escorted out or have been able to go out under American control and protection.

[Steve Bannon]

Hang on. Just to make sure people understand that. And this is why. Because information warfare has been their primary. When he talks about Hormuz, the information warfare that the Western media picked up and world media picked up is what kept the 800 to 2000 vessels in there. And this is why as soon as they saw the destroyers transit Hormuz and get into the Persian Gulf, that they immediately came out with that they had been hit or at least attacked by Iranian missiles, which turned out to not be true, I guess.

[Admiral Cooper]

Yes. CENTCOM has come out and put out a. A post on X and the fact check and said that's completely, patently false. None of our ships have been hit. Which is the pattern for this last two months. The Iranian regime has put out several reports about ships being hit. The Lincoln was hit, all kinds of fake news. So it is a form of propaganda, cognitive warfare, information warfare. But also, it's not just the Iranians, it's our own press. As you recall, a week or so ago, we had the Wall Street Journal reporting that they had a assessment from the Pentagon that said it would take six months to clear the Strait of Hormuz. Well, it hasn't taken six months. So far to date, there has not been one verified report of a mine in the water in the Strait of Hormuz. Yet it dominates the world's press and has dominated it. Maybe now this will finally break the hold. But again, there are forces there inside our own press corps that don't want to support what we're doing. And so they're going to twist and turn and shape the narrative to their agenda. But the objective facts seem very clear. There hasn't been a mine. These ships have now departed. Our ships have gone in and out, and we'll watch and see what happens over the next few days. But I think it should be objectively clear that the evidence is increasingly apparent that the Iranians don't have the ability to shut down the Strait of Hormuz. And now it's up to the rest of the international community to say, okay, we got. We get it. And it's up to NATO and our other allies to say, hey, we're going to come in and help now, too, to do this. So it's not just the United States. It's doing it alone. So that's my assessment, is where we're going, is we're going to start demonstrating the facts on the ground or that this is going to be an Open ability to transit.

[Steve Bannon]

Okay, hang on for a second. Honor was going to join us from Rome because we're going to talk about Rubio's trip to Italy, not just for the Pope, but also for Meloni for this exact topic about the Italian Navy pitching in here, which she says now she's adamantly opposed to bowling. So talk to me, is this the game changer we've been looking for? Is President Trump wanting to force the action and Cooper giving him an alternative here to basically force the action by sending the Navy, the destroyers into the strait, through the Strait of Hormuz, transiting into the Persian Gulf to tell these 800 to 2,000 vessels, hey, just follow us, we'll get you out of here through this new southern, you know, closer to Oman transit zone.

[Eric Bolling]

Sir, couple thoughts on that real quick. And I'm just bringing you the facts. I talked to head oil traders of oil producing companies, Chevron, Exxon and refiners, some of the major refiners in the world. I did it for 35 years of my life, 20 right there on the trading floor. And I have very, very good information. Here's the latest. Okay, there's, there are 2,000 vessels trapped right now inside the Gulf. There are 400 waiting outside. So you're, you're approaching 2,500 vessels that aren't moving. I just looked between the last 24 hours from 53 to 54 today, 7 have transited in and 6 have transited out. A total of 13. Only I will note. Do not shoot the messenger here. I despise everything about Rupert Murdoch and everything he has to offer us as far as what he calls news. But they do point out that Besson and Trump are calling this escorts, when in reality it's not an escort, it's a recommended route combined with insurance companies giving their, you know, check red check, say go ahead and do it and shipping companies agreeing. So it's a conglomerate of groups, none of them being the Navy destroyers actually escorting vessels in and out. To do 100 vessels in and out or 130 vessels in and out would be impossible. So it's not exactly what it is. Tank rates are triple what they were before the, before the conflict started. So, and that's really where it lies. How much does it cost to transport goods and how quickly can you get it? And right now, Steve, in the last 24 hours, anything that the administration has proposed certainly isn't in action right now. I'm not trying to rain on the party or the parade, but the truth is until you have real open. Hang on, let me give you one more thought.

[Steve Bannon]

Go ahead, go ahead, go ahead.

[Eric Bolling]

What? This whole conflict is this backup of oil, this draining of resources around the globe. Here's how it is interpreted by the top trading desks in the world right now. Not just oil, but trading desks. Japan, China, India, eu critical. It's a critical crisis happening right now. United States, moderate. And this is right from top trading desk. So we are shielded. So my point is, what's the rush? Squeeze, starve the snake. That's my point. I'd say take our time with this because we're certainly in no rush on this side, but there are political implications to that.

[Steve Bannon]

When you say no rush on our side, then why is diesel. You're giving me, you're giving me. You said, they're saying, hang on. You say there's no rush on our side, but diesel's at an all time high here. Gasoline is blowing through four bucks. The guy in the street, the guy, the trucker pulling up to the truck stop to fill up before he goes cross country in a long haul says, hey, I understand all your geopolitics and geo economics and geo this and geo that, but I'm getting crushed here. So when you say that it's fungible. Are the oil companies who just announced great profits on Thursday and Friday, are they holding up the American people?

[Eric Bolling]

Yeah. Well, again, early on we talked about, let's get this thing open quickly because of gas prices. We're beyond that, Steve. We're going to hit 450 this week. We may hit $5 by the end of the summer. I predicted this a long time ago. And everyone said, bolling, this is a bigger problem. This is a global problem. They hate us. Death to America. We have to replace this regime. And so which one is it do you want? My personal belief is we should have cut a deal with them a long time ago, get oil prices down, because going into the midterms, we're going to take it on the chin, frankly, at this point, you're going to have $5. You may have a new high.

[Steve Bannon]

Hang on, hang on. They got down on you because your logic, as you said the other day, we're exporting 14 million barrels a day. Correct.

[Eric Bolling]

A record.

[Steve Bannon]

So if we're exporting 14 million barrels a day, because as Captain Fennell points out, there are no ships coming out of the Persian Gulf until today in any kind of, in any kind of scale. If we're exporting 14 million barrels a day, why are the gas prices here having almost as big increases as they are in places like, I don't know, randomly, India, the eu, places that depend upon the Persian Gulf and that oil coming out from the Arabs on one side and the Persians on the other. Why are there and why the record the oil companies announced record profits the other day?

[Eric Bolling]

Because one word. The free market. Two words. The free market. Free market. We were built on the free market. The free market. Che seeks the greatest price it can for its goods. So there's no real if if they can sell their oil, you, you know, produce it in in California and sell it to some in Germany, they're going to do it at shipping cost

[Admiral Cooper]

and

[Steve Bannon]

gouge and gouge and gouge the citizens of the United States is what they're doing. Don't give me, don't give me free. Don't give me free. Don't give me free market. I don't want to hear free market. That's happy talk. That's literally happy talk. The United States Navy, the working people. The working people. There is no such thing as the free market. The entire system's rigged top to bottom against the little guy, and nothing is better to show that than what's happening right now. Anyway. Short commercial break ERIC Bolling, Our man on oil Captain Fennell, our man on the Navy and the main thing next in the world, The dollar's convertibility into gold ended in 1971. Gold was fixed at $35 an ounce. Well, fast forward to today, and the US dollar has lost over 85% of its purchasing power. Gold, on the other hand, is increased in value by over 12,000%. That's why Central banks are buying gold at record levels. That's why major firms like Vanguard and Blackrock hold significant positions in gold. And that's why I encourage you to consider diversifying your savings with physical gold from Birch Gold Group. But it starts with education. Birchgold just announced the their Learn and Earn Precious Metals event. This free online event rewards you for learning the basics of investing in precious metals. Sign up to get a free silver on your next purchase. Get even larger incentives as you go. The more you learn, the more you can earn. But you must act now, as this special event only runs through April 30th. The dollar lost its anchor in 1971. You don't have to lose yours. Text my name Bannon B A N N O N to the number 989898 to join Birchgold's Learn and Earn Precious Metals event by April 30th. Text Bannon B A N N O N To 989898 and do it today. Here's your host, Stephen K. Band. We have a lot to get through in limited time to get through it. So I'm gonna chop some wood here. Captain Fennell. First off, in response to Eric's point that we're not escorting, although Bessa and the President are kind of applying that we're not actually escorting ship, we're clearing a path to have multiple ships come out in that new lane that's been navigation lane that's been created closer to Oman.

[Admiral Cooper]

Correct? Yes. I think it's fair to say that what we've seen today is that we've had some number of U.S. navy warships, destroyers go into the Gulf. We have some number that are operating outside the Gulf along with an amphibious ready group and an aircraft carrier. We have 100 plus land based and sea based aircraft. We have unmanned vessels and we have cooperation with Oman. And we've been demonstrated that there's a transit lane not only with our warships but with merchant flag, US flag, merchant ships. So now all the conditions have demonstrated that the Iranians are impotent in their ability to interdict those kind of ships with the protection that we're providing over the, over the sea, on the sea and under the sea. So right now it's the, the, the, the onus will be on the international shipping community to say why aren't you willing to leave? You're willing to go through the Iranian toll booth and pay 2 to 4 million dollars a ship. Why don't you go for free through this lane that we've created? And so I think the pressure will be mounting then.

[Steve Bannon]

And, and, and the, and that's backed up by carrier air wings on these carriers. So we have, we have air superior air supremacy and now we have major, we have combatants are actually in the Persian Gulf himself to, to show people where the lane is. Correct?

[Admiral Cooper]

Correct. And we'll have a 10 Warthogs up, we'll have airborne command and control aircraft, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft to have a complete view of what's happening. So if anybody from Iran, one little Mosquito boat or five Mosquito boats decide to leave Iranian waters, they're going to be, and we have the roe. Now there's been statements from the administration that the ROE allows us to strike those kind of vessels. So the Iranians are going to have to transit 20 plus miles across the Strait of Hormuz to get into range to launch an rpg. That, that they're not going to be able to do that without being blown up just like we're seeing in the, in the southcom area in Venezuela and the Caribbean. They won't get across. Drones are going to be neutralized. Now we have new technologies there, lasers and things of that nature and any kind of ballistic or anti ship cruise missiles are not going to have any targeting data. So they're going to shoot into the blind if they try it. So I don't think the Iranians are going to have much success here. So it's really a matter of will by the international shipping community following the will that's been demonstrated by the United States Navy.

[Steve Bannon]

Now the United States Navy needs assistance in this. We can't do it forever, particularly as we just showed that this is all going to Europe, into Asia. Ben Harnwell in Rome. The Secretary of State's heading over to see Maloney and the Pope Meloni specifically about NATO and very specifically Italy and the Italian Navy pitching in here. Your thoughts on didn't she already tell us no, we're not interested, sir?

[Ben Harnwell]

Well, I think what she's trying to do, it's not that Italy's saying no, we're not interested, it's no, we're not interested in US Leadership in this. We're going to do it, we'll do it. We'll try and guarantee freedom of travel in the Strait of Hormuz, but we're going to do it with our EU partners. We'll do this looking for a UN mandate and that's really, I think the snub, the rebuff to US Leadership on this from America's bridge to Europe. With regards, however, to the visit, I think it's set to be the Pope on Thursday and phony Meloni herself on Friday. Even though the official State Department release said they're going to see Vatican leadership and then their equivalent representatives in the, in the Italian government. Almost universally the press isn't sort of spinning this with regards to Iran or the Gulf of Hormuz, but they're spinning this as effectively an apology tour. Marco Rubio is going, is coming to Europe, to Italy to restore the relationship after the President Trump.

[Steve Bannon]

Hang on, full stop, full stop. You're saying an apology tour by the United States of America.

[Ben Harnwell]

It's a groveling on one's knees apology tour, Steve.

[Steve Bannon]

Yeah, a groveling. Hang on, hang on. It's being presented by the European media as a groveling tour of the United States. The Pope into Maloney, into the EU and these deadbeats have done nothing to date when they had every opportunity to help us out on a strait in the Persian Gulf, which 100% in the Red Sea, that supplies their economy and doesn't really apply to the United States with anything. They have the gall to do that.

[Ben Harnwell]

Perhaps I need to choose my words a little better, Steve. It's a groveling, humiliating, prostrated, groveling tour by little Marco to Italy, to Rome. That's how it's being presented in the Italian press for sure. And I have to say, right, it seems to me that the State Department is willingly allowing itself to be played into that narrative. And that's what's the most appalling thing about it. Okay, let me explain what I mean by that.

[Steve Bannon]

Okay, go ahead.

[Ben Harnwell]

Well, let me explain what I mean by that. I personally, as are you, as in anyone who's prepared to defend President Trump and this administration publicly here in continental Europe. And by that I mean the UK Everyone who does that is used to a bit of tds. It's low level. It's always there. That's fine. I can quite easily cope with people criticizing me for supporting the president. Not no problem at all. What really gets me, however, is where this administration allows itself to be played and shows itself. And I'm not saying this is the case. I'm saying this is the perception it shows itself of not worthy of respect. That is something I find far more difficult on personal interactions to defend. And I would, if I were Marco Rubio, if I were the stateman, I would be, I'd cancel, I'd cancel the trip on the basis of these headlines

[Steve Bannon]

and I'll say cancel.

[Ben Harnwell]

You, you, you want to repair this relationship, you come here, you come to me, you come to see me in D.C. that's how we'll, that's how we'll repair this relationship. Because this relationship will be repaired by you understanding what President Trump meant by his criticisms by internalizing it and correcting your faulty behavior. That's how we repair this relationship. Coming here for a prostrated, humiliating, groveling apology tour.

[Admiral Cooper]

Right.

[Ben Harnwell]

And that, as I repeat, that is literally how La Republica is playing this almost to the, to the word, but is unacceptable. It's absolutely unacceptable.

[Steve Bannon]

Steve Bolling. This is why, why are we sending 14 million barrels to bail these guys out or their oil and gas prices be through the roof when we got diesel at 583. And you see right there, they think that the president was wrong about this war, he's been wrong about the prosecution of this war. And they're playing up Marco Rubio, going to see the Pope and Meloni and even seeing Maloney blows my head up, even maybe as bad as seeing the Pope, that we're bailing them out, sir.

[Eric Bolling]

Again, Steve, you're either with the free market or you're not. It's either part of the American fabric or it's not. It's. And you have to make the choice. Do you want to play the game of letting government dictate where our goods are being sold? I don't.

[Steve Bannon]

Eric. Eric, it's. Eric, it's called America First. Why are we shipping 14 million barrels a day?

[Eric Bolling]

I don't want to argue simply saying you have a choice here to decide. Do you want government? Because when. When a Democrat, if a Democrat becomes president, House and Senate, they can play all kinds of games, Steve. They can say I have to green energy going forward. And that's.

[Steve Bannon]

I have my. My work, my hang on. My work, my work, my work hang on. My work. Deprogramming you from your years on Wall street and from Fox and Newsmax is much greater than I realized this morning. I've only got such, I guess, news hacks.

[Eric Bolling]

It's not Newsmax, it's news hacks. UAE says fire UPS in their petroleum industrial site following a drone attack from Iran. So Iran is not done fighting whatever they're doing. We're sending 13, 14 million barrels a day out record high when we shouldn't be. But it would have to for me as a free marketeer. I'm going to stick with it. I'm a libertarian. I would prefer the President bringing these oil companies in, refiners and producers and sitting down with them in the East Room, embarrassing the living daylights out of them in front of the American people. Because that's what moves in when, when shareholders get spooked because the CEO is. Appears to be gouging the American people. Just lean into them and say, you guys, what are your profits? Why are you going windfall war profits when the rest of America is struggling? You got to embarrass them into it, Steve. I really prefer not using government controls to dictate price or destination of goods.

[Steve Bannon]

Eric, where do people go? We'll do a handoff at. At 4 today. We'll do it later.

[Eric Bolling]

You got a busy show today. I'll see you at 4:00 or 4:50 if we can see. Just stay on this, guys. This is not over anywhere near over.

[Steve Bannon]

So Captain Fennell, I know you got to punch out the. A drone strike on uae. Is that change your. Does that change your attitude at all?

[Admiral Cooper]

No, that's what I said an hour ago, I said that they're likely going to reach out in a different domain. So I don't, I'm not unexpected. But my point is, is that the straight itself, they're going to have a tough time being able to interdict there. And I think that once we start demonstrating and ships start passing, this flow will change and that will put Eric's assessments and the rest of the market, oil market, into a different light. We just have to get people to believe that there's, it's an open and free lane. And I think by demonstrating these ships coming in and out and we do this over some number of days, that that will change the dynamic. But we have to watch out for the Iranians to reach out in a different way. But every time they reach out, they're risking the cease fire. And when they do that, they're risking lights out in Tehran and something much worse.

[Steve Bannon]

You would agree that you think, you think that the United States and the president now retaken the initiative in this conflict?

[Admiral Cooper]

Oh, yeah. I think they've had the initiative all along. I think they've just tried to be patient and to get Iran to come to their senses, which, you know, we have talked on this show many, many times, that that's probably not going to happen. So it's going to probably get darker before it gets lighter. But the Gulf can stay open.

[Steve Bannon]

We'll have you back on. Talk about the main thing, where do people go to get your writing, Sir,

[Admiral Cooper]

I'm, I write sometimes for American greatness and I have a piece coming out tomorrow in the US Naval Institute pursuing proceedings on the PLA Navy Year in review. Should hit the streets tomorrow.

[Steve Bannon]

Perfect. We'll get you back on. Thank you, Captain Finnell, Appreciate you this morning. Ben Harwell. Ben Harnwell, your, your advice being in your perch in Rome is the way this is being played is that we're apologizing. Should both of these meetings be canceled should both of these meetings be canceled

[Ben Harnwell]

immediately without any doubt whatsoever? Of course, absolutely. I think the State Department has badly presented or allow the reason why Marco Rubio is going to Rome in the press. And that I think just signals American weakness where it's absolutely not necessary. So I would, I have no hesitation whatsoever to canceling both of these meetings. And besides America, America has nothing to apologize. President Trump has nothing to apologize for with what he said. I was delighted. I think that's when the high point of the last 10 years when he criticized both Georgia money and especially Pope Leo, that that was a Long time coming. And 100. There's no need to walk that back in.

[Steve Bannon]

100 deserved. You agree with me?

[Ben Harnwell]

No. A thousand percent deserved.

[Steve Bannon]

Ben Harnwell. We'll get you back on tomorrow. Where. Where can people get your beady eyed analysis on social media?

[Ben Harnwell]

Adjectives are important. Steve Cynical bdis. Please get my social media platform of choice at Honolulu. My surname or my provocative. My gratuitously outrageous provocative post at the top of the feed awaiting your attention. Thanks, Steve. God bless. Oh, may the fourth be with you.

[Steve Bannon]

Thank you sir. Appreciate, appreciate you. We're going to take a short commercial break. Take your phone out and text Bannon B A N N O N at 989-898. Get the ultimate guide. This guide is free. No obligation from Birch Gold. And you get contact with Philip Patrick and his team, which you need to do immediately. If you're 65 or already on Medicare, listen up folks, and grab a pen, maybe even a number two pencil. Call 845-WAR room. That's 845-WAR room. Call it right now. I'm serious. Call it now. Here's why. The insurance companies and their lackeys in the Washington swamp have built a Medicare system designed to confuse you and and rip you off. Rising premiums, denied claims, fine print. Nobody but a lobbyist understands millions of American seniors are paying too much and getting too little. And worst of all, most don't even know it. Hey, that could be you. That's why if you're already on Medicare or will be soon, you need to talk to our friends at Chapter. They have a team of advisors trained to serve American seniors, not the insurance companies. In under 20 minutes they can find you the best plan for your needs at the lowest cost. Why? They're a data company. They have all the data on every plan. It's totally free. There's no pressure, no bs, just straightforward honest help from fellow patriots. So don't wait. Call 845 war room right now. That's 845 war room. Tell them Bannon sent you. Now listen, in the first couple of days of the launch of this company with the Warren Posse, Posse members saved tens and up to hundreds of thousands collectively of dollars in these fees. Go check it out. Today. That's Chapter. Call 845 War Room. Do it today.

[Eric Bolling]

War Room.

[Steve Bannon]

Here's your host, Stephen K. Ban. We talked about the situation with AI data centers in Texas. Also tomorrow in Texas going to have a a breakdown of some issues with the Islamic invasion of Texas and Sharia law. We'll get to that tomorrow. I want to thank Patriot Mobile for being the tip of the spear on all these topics. Jenny and Glenn story. Just an amazing job. 972 Patriot talked to someone with the east Texas accent in their customer service department. Find out why it's the best mobile service out there and why this Christian based company of Christian values supports the issues and institutions and organizations that you Support. Patriot Mobile. 972 Patriot Daniel Buck now head of strategic alliances and partnerships at Patriot. Join us. You guys had a big weekend. I was watching Rav. Very big Saturday night with Patriot Mobile and other of your alliance partners. Man.

[Danielle Buck]

Yes. I just returned from New York celebrating America's 250th with moms for Liberty and Mercury one and many other organizations on Ellis Island. You know where so many Americans came through that same hall with a hope and a dream to start a new life here in America. I was able to find my great grandmother. It was really special for me and it was just an incredible evening of reminding why America and as you look at the Statue of Liberty to see, you know it's a beacon of hope. America is a beacon of hope to the whole world. And to get to be there I'm looking at these pictures and just honestly it's kind of taking my breath away just the way it was on Saturday night because America is something to be celebrated and I think that sometimes that is forgotten and we all should remember it. I mean we have 250 years of freedom and that's what Patriot Mobile is all about is supporting an event like this. It's celebrating America and celebrating why America is beautiful. And what's so interesting is that the American story is also kind of the Patriot Mobile story of a dream to say hey, I'm tired of woke America taking our dollars and using it against us. And so Glenn's story started Patriot Mobile 13 years ago. And to see that we get to there's a fun picture of our group at our table. There's Jenny's story and many of our others to get to be there and say hey, we celebrate America and we want you to join us. And while we were there it wasn't just the people that were putting on the event which was incredible by the way but it was also we saw America first Policy Institute people, Moms for America people. American journey. Experience, Experience people. Sean Foyt led us in a few worship songs as we were standing outside just kind of looking at the flag and the Statue of Liberty and the New York skyline and just really worshiping God for what he has done through our country. And it was an incredible moment. And what's fun is that there's another event coming up in just over a month, and it's called Sea of Shining Sea. So this one was obviously on the New York harbor and the next one is in San Diego on the flight deck at the USS Midway. And we're sponsoring that event as well because it's on D Day and we're going to celebrate the men and women who fought for our country. And I think it's going to be an equally incredible experience. And so looking forward to that as well. And I was just chatting actually over text as I was waiting for my hit with you about some of our team. They're headed with the Moms for America team to celebrate their 250th tour in San Antonio and in Dallas and Fort Worth just this week. So wherever you are in the country, I would encourage you to reach out to find one of our cause partners. Get involved. You know, whether it's a veteran group or a pro life group or celebrating moms who are fighting for their children, like Moms for Liberty or Moms for America, just join them and, you know, get off your couch and do something. I think that's what I encourage people to do is you can join Patriot Mobile and you can be reminded every month of the things that you're supporting by just paying a cell phone bill. But I also know that God has something that he called each of you to do. So whether it's telling the neighbor or watching somebody or doing a kind favor for them, telling them about the hope that we have in Jesus, I mean, I think that sometimes people just be reminded that we each can do something to serve our Lord and Savior and to make America a better place.

[Steve Bannon]

972 Patriot is where you get started. Go there today. You'll talk to one of the customer service reps with a East Texas accent. Just a wonderful company. Where do they go to find out more of what you're working on as strategic alliance and everything Patriot Mobile is doing in the community, Ma'? Am?

[Danielle Buck]

Well, the easiest way is to just follow along on our social media. We have our Facebook, our Instagram, our X where we're constantly posting all the things that we were doing. There was a whole other team of people at NASCAR yesterday doing that as well. So we're kind of all over the place. So I just would encourage you to join us, if you haven't already today, by, as you said, calling 972 Patriot and talking to to somebody getting switched over today. And follow us on social media, read our blogs and when you're a member you'll get to be reminded of all these amazing things that we get to sponsor and support because of your hard earned dollars.

[Steve Bannon]

I'm just taking a wild guess that Glenn Story took the NASCAR part and that Jenny Story was there for the others. I'm just, just, I'm just throwing it out there. I have no insider information.

[Danielle Buck]

Yeah, no, I was getting pictures. Are you going to come to NASCAR when you land? And I'm like I'm landing too late. Sorry. I need to go see my family but I know they had a blast.

[Steve Bannon]

Danielle Buck, thank you so much. Appreciate you and the entire team over feature mobile Big, big weekend. Big weekend. The Ellis island thing was fantastic. Great job. Real America Voice coverage. Mike Lindell, Mother's Day is upon us. What do you got? We got a special deal from my pillow sir.

[Mike Lindell]

Absolutely. Everybody we've got we put on for Mother's Day we put on sale which we never we haven't done this the lowest price in history for our MyPillow premiums 1898 for the Queen Queen size King size is a dollar more and our Giza Dream sheets the queen size 69.98. So these are the two products that have made us famous that the ones you're going to love just sleeping in you love just the feel of them sheets. We also put the pillowcases on sale. So if you've ever wanted to try our Giza Dream Sheet get, get yourself a set of pillowcases for mom and you guys go to Mike or to my or mypillow.com forward/war room and you're going to see all these Mother's Day specials there. But you're also going to see the free shipping options still available that we offered on the the big ticket items. The mattresses maybe your mom needs a new mattress or the mattress toppers ship free right to your front door. But get the Giza Dream sheets and the my pillows. Remember we've sold very close to 85 million now because they work. This is the premium ones with the 2 inch gusset. These are the ones that went all over the country from show to show, fair to fair when the box stores turned us down way back when. And this is how it all started. The so this is our, our premium my pillow queen size 1898 and king size a dollar more. And then you get the Giza Dream sheets as low as 29.98. Remember the Queen and King Size 69.99 and 79.99. Use that promo code War Room Our employees are very excited about this sale. Call 800-873-1062 and they'll tell you how they love the sheets. If you've never tried them or the my pillow, now's the time. Get them for your mom and for Mother's Day.

[Steve Bannon]

Promo Code War Room Mike Lindell See you on the five o' Clock show. Great way to kick off great Mother's Day sale. MyPillow.com promo code warm the Charlie Kirk show is next. Posto after that, Gruber Bowling and then back at 5pm with the war room. Natalie will be at 5. I will be here at 6. Do not miss it. See you then. Do you owe back taxes or you haven't filed your taxes in years? Now is the time to resolve your tax matters. With the national conversation around abolishing the income tax, the IRS is fighting back, improving. It's here to stay by becoming more aggressive than ever before. They're sending out more collection notices, filing more tax liens and collecting billions more in recent years. If you owe, the IRS can garnish your wages, levy your bank accounts, seize your retirement and even your home if you owe or haven't filed. It's not a question of if the IRS will act, it's a question of when it will act. Right now, Tax Network USA is offering a completely free IRS Research and Discovery call to show you exactly where you stand and what they can stop before it's too late. Their powerful programs and strategies can save you thousands or even eliminate your debt entirely if you qualify. Don't make a costly mistake. Representing yourself or calling the IRS on your own waives your rights and cost you more money. They are not, and let me repeat, the IRS is not on your side. Get protected the right way with Tax Network USA and start the process of settling your tax matters once and for all today. Call 1-800-958-1000. That's 1-800-958-10000 or visit tnusa.com Bannon for your free discovery call with Tax Network USA. Let me repeat, 800-958-1000. Tell them Bannon sent you. Don't let the IRS be the first to act. Take advantage of first mover advantage. You move.