Trump downplays Houthi threat to blockade Red Sea

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - President Donald Trump is downplaying a threat from Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen to blockade the Red Sea, saying the U.S. has dealt with the group before.

The Houthis’ armed forces announced Monday a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea at the Strait of bab al-Mandab.

Gray Media’s White House House correspondent Jon Decker asked the president in the Oval Office about his level of concern over the threat, Trump said the blockade had not yet materialized.

“What happens so far, it hasn’t happened. It might happen, but we take care of things. If something like that happens, we take care of it. You know, we’ve done that with the Houthis before, and we haven’t heard from them in a while since we did what we did,” he said.

With concerns about a possibly widening conflict in Iran, Trump confirmed he will travel to Dover Air Force Base for the dignified transfer of remains of soldiers killed in the conflict.

“I’ll be going to Dover for something that I feel is it’s a great honor for me to do it,” Trump said.

If the Houthis follow through with their threat, it would blow up a ceasefire the U.S. and the Houthis agreed to in May of 2025. It would also further disrupt oil markets worldwide.