White House: ‘The U.S. Navy has not escorted a tanker or a vessel at this time’

“The U.S. Navy has not escorted a tanker or vessel at this time,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a news conference, where she was asked about Wright’s post on X.

The prices of U.S. crude oil and Brent crude each fell by more than 17% after that erroneous tweet, and stayed far below their earlier prices even after the White House said that Wright had been wrong.

“However, I know the post was taken down pretty quickly,” she said.

Wright had written, “The U.S. Navy successfully escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of
Hormuz to ensure oil remains flowing to global markets.”

Leavitt said that the Navy escorting tankers through the strait remains “an option” that President Donald Trump “has said he will absolutely utilize if and when necessary at the appropriate time.”

The Strait of Hormuz is the most significant chokepoint for oil shipments in the world.