Trump: Houthis 'Don't Want' US In Yemen - So They're Letting Most Red Sea Shipping Through
The short version
- He said to reporters Saturday while meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin, "The Houthis called us, and they don't want to fight with us.
- They don’t want us to go after them." He further explained that "they would much prefer not having us involved:" and so "they are letting most ships go through .
- " The president did acknowledged they do have a ban on Saudi vessels, however.
- They let us know they don't want to fight with us.
- They would much prefer not having us involved, and they are letting most ships go through.
The story
After it was widely reported this week that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urgently sought military assistance from President Donald Trump amid the rapid Houthi takeover of Yemen's Red Sea coast from the forces of the internationally recognized Sanaa government, Trump has said the Houthis are in contact with him and have pledged to let ships through the Bab Al-Mandab Strait.
Trump is currently in Ireland. He said to reporters Saturday while meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin, "The Houthis called us, and they don't want to fight with us. They don’t want us to go after them."
He further explained that "they would much prefer not having us involved:" and so "they are letting most ships go through." The president did acknowledged they do have a ban on Saudi vessels, however.
Trump: "The Houthis called us. They don't want to fight with us. They let us know they don't want to fight with us. They don't want us to go after them. They would much prefer not having us involved, and they are letting most ships go through. There's just one country they're not… pic.twitter.com/munm8N0Gys
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 12, 2026
Indeed this is consistent with Ansar Allah's latest statements declaring the Red Sea passage remains open, but closed to Saudi and Israeli-linked shipping.
This seems to confirm prior reporting that said Trump rejected MbS' request for US military intervention in Yemen. To review:
Axios: Trump declined Saudi requests to strike Ansarallah as they advanced Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called U.S. President Donald Trump twice on Thursday, urging him to launch strikes against Yemen’s Ansarallah as they advanced along the Red Sea coast toward Bab al-Mandab, two U.S. officials told Axios. Trump declined, with Washington saying it has no plans to intervene directly for now.
It seems Washington also doesn't want to see the Iran conflict explode into a runaway regional war which would certainly greatly exacerbate the global energy crisis.
Aaran Kennedy, a maritime security analyst with the global consultancy, Control Risks, has described to Al Jazeera that while "These advances strengthen the Houthis’ already strong position over the Red Sea. They simply make it even easier for the Houthis to target shipping" - the reality remains “It doesn’t necessarily mean that, right now, they’re going to expand their maritime target set."
Kennedy believes a full Bab al-Mandeb closure is unlikely. "Just because the Houthis have gained this territory near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, it doesn’t mean that they’re going to close it down. That situation remains highly unlikely. But what it does do is it expands their capabilities because it puts their weaponry closer to the Red Sea shipping lanes."
Analysts are calling the Iran-backed Houthi group’s victories the most significant regional development since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran.
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) September 11, 2026
The offensives could be particularly damaging for Saudi Arabia and its oil exports.
Here’s what we know https://t.co/nrVeKbd8EJ pic.twitter.com/qsqxbeJ0dh
But this does also ultimately given Tehran huge leverage, given it can persuade its Houthi allies anytime to take drastic action over the strait. Houthi threats over regional waters was on full display during the height of the Gaza War, which saw the US Navy get involved in the Red Sea, but warships later departed under the guise of handing security over to regional as well as European allies.
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How this story developed
Full timelineAlto has tracked this across 3 days of coverage from 1 outlet.
- Trump: Houthis 'Don't Want' US In Yemen - So They're Letting Most Red Sea Shipping ThroughYou are here
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The Story At A Glance
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- • Trump declined Saudi requests for military strikes against Houthi forces in Yemen.
- • The Houthis claim they want to avoid conflict with the U.S. and are allowing most shipping through the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
- • Houthi forces have seized strategic territory along the Red Sea coast, increasing their leverage over global trade.
The Houthis have expanded their control toward the Bab al-Mandab Strait, targeting Saudi and Israeli-linked vessels. This shift follows significant regional instability stemming from the ongoing conflict involving Israel and Iran.
Christian Perspective
The refusal to engage in another Middle Eastern war aligns with a desire to protect American lives and resources from endless foreign entanglements. However, the rise of Iran-backed groups creates instability that threatens the global order. We must prioritize the protection of our own borders and interests over the security concerns of foreign monarchs.
Implications
Prioritizing America First prevents the depletion of national wealth on foreign conflicts that do not serve our direct interests. Avoiding escalation protects the global economy from energy crises that would harm American families. This restraint ensures that American blood is not spilled for the sake of regional geopolitical maneuvering.
Broader Trends
This situation reflects the shift toward an America First foreign policy that rejects the old globalist tendency to act as the world's
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