Rivera: Strait of Hormuz Blockade at Heart of U.S. Economic Frustration Amid Iran Conflict

Americans are increasingly frustrated with rising costs at home and escalating tensions in the Middle East, according to a discussion between Connell McShane and Geraldo Rivera.

Rivera described a “bifurcated economy” in which investors and those with assets in the stock market or property are doing relatively well, while wage earners without significant investments face steadily climbing prices for essentials. “If you’re at your wage earner without significant investment and the price of everything you buy is more expensive today than it was yesterday or last week… you’re looking forward to the next week or next month? You say what the am I going to buy a quart of milk or a loaf of bread?” Rivera said.

He stressed that President Donald Trump must reassure Americans, particularly those at the lower end of the economic spectrum, that conditions will improve. Rivera pointed to gas prices as a daily reminder of broader pressures, noting that while some might make mental concessions during wartime, the impact on everyday budgets remains acute.

Central to the discussion was the Strait of Hormuz, which Rivera identified as the core issue driving current economic strain. “The Strait of Hormuz is the issue. … It’s the cause of all of this,” he said, urging that the waterway must be opened. He warned against relying on China for relief, describing China as America’s competitor on the world stage that “wants us to be second place and shrinking” and possesses its own resources, including coal, to endure prolonged disruption.

Rivera highlighted the human and logistical scale of the crisis, picturing hundreds of massive tankers—some 1,000 feet long—anchored with nowhere to go, and crews totaling around 23,000 people facing shortages of food and basic needs. He called the situation a national emergency that requires immediate military and political solutions to restore the flow of vessels.

The conversation linked the Middle East conflict, including reported bombings in Tehran, directly to domestic inflation. “If you want inflation to come down… you’ve got to get a solution [and] open it up,” Rivera said, adding that the economic stranglehold must be broken because Iran and others believe their tolerance for pain exceeds that of the United States.

McShane referenced an AP article illustrating the collision of tax cuts with inflation. In one example, Evan Duke reported being unable to afford health insurance while worrying about higher costs for rent, food, and fuel, with customers at his workplace leaving less in the tip jar. Both speakers noted this reflects a K-shaped recovery where asset owners fare better than wage-dependent households.

Rivera emphasized that resolving the Strait of Hormuz situation is prerequisite to meaningful relief at home, warning there will be a lag even after tankers begin moving again. He maintained that the president must devote significant attention to developing solutions for the bottleneck while addressing the intertwined foreign and domestic challenges.