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Trump Gaggles with Press on Air Force One En Route Joint Base Andrews, Mar. 15, 2026

March 15, 2026 · The White House · 0:20:46

Embedded from the source channel — never re-uploaded. Watch on YouTube

What happened

President Donald Trump took questions aboard Air Force One on March 15, 2026, returning to Joint Base Andrews. His central ask was burden-sharing on the Strait of Hormuz: “we’re talking to countries about policing the straits because they are the ones — you know, we don’t get oil, very little, 1% 2%. China as an example gets about 90% of its oil from the Hormuz,” as he stated the figures. “We’ll help. We’ll work with them.” He said the response had been good, and that NATO countries in particular would be watched: “We’re always there for NATO… I’d be interesting to see what country wouldn’t help us with a very small endeavor, which is just keeping the strait open.”

On the war itself, he said, “as far as I’m concerned, we’ve essentially defeated Iran,” with its air forces, navy, air defense and leadership taken out, as he stated it. He confirmed the Kharg Island strike spared the oil pipes — “we can do that on 5 minutes notice… but we chose not to do it. I chose not to do it yet.” On negotiations: “They want to negotiate badly as they should, but I don’t think they’re ready to do what they have to do… but I think they will be ready at some point.” He also said Iran had shot and killed 32,000 protesters, as he stated the figure, and described a pro-regime square rally as “totally AI generated.”

Why it matters

This gaggle is the first full statement of the Hormuz policing ask — the burden-sharing position the President pressed on NATO and Asian allies through the following weeks, stated here aboard Air Force One with the war’s status as he framed it. It is recorded on the Foreign Policy & Defense hub.

Scoreboard watch

The President’s Hormuz policing ask, his “essentially defeated Iran” characterization, and his protester death figure, all as stated by the President, are recorded here for the weekly scoreboard.

Sources: The White House, “President Trump Gaggles with Press on Air Force One En Route Joint Base Andrews, Mar. 15, 2026,” The White House, March 15, 2026 (official upload, embedded above; uploaded March 16, 2026). All figures and characterizations as stated by the President at the gaggle.