Trump Reacts To Concerns Over Houthis Blocking Red Sea, Says ‘We’ve Had No Problem’ With Them

According to a report by the Times of Israel on Tuesday July 21, 2026, US President Donald Trump has sought to ease concerns that Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement could attempt to disrupt commercial shipping in the Red Sea, saying the group has not posed a recent challenge to the United States.

Speaking to reporters during a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House, Trump said there was no indication that the Houthis had moved to block maritime traffic, despite growing regional tensions linked to the conflict involving Iran.

The US President maintained that Washington remained capable of responding forcefully should the group threaten international shipping, pointing to previous US military action against the Houthis as evidence of that capability.

“We’ve had no problem with the Houthis. They’ve had no problem with us for a long period of time, including during this conflict [with Iran],” he said.

Trump also recalled the US military campaign launched against Houthi positions in the spring of 2025. The operation lasted for nearly two months before a ceasefire brought the fighting to a halt, after which, he suggested, the group significantly reduced its attacks.

According to the President, the Houthis have largely remained quiet since that earlier campaign, and he indicated that the current conflict with Iran has not altered that situation.

His remarks come as concerns persist over the security of key shipping routes across the Middle East. Both the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz remain vital corridors for global trade, making any threat to maritime navigation a closely watched issue for governments and international markets.

While Trump projected confidence that the United States could respond effectively if necessary, his comments suggested the administration does not currently view the Houthis as an immediate threat to Red Sea shipping…....