Fox News, the official website of the U.S. Fox News, reported on April 7 that on Tuesday morning, President Trump issued a stern warning to Iran, stating that if no agreement is reached to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, "the entire civilization will perish tonight."

The report said that Trump posted on Truth Social, writing, "The entire civilization will perish tonight and can never be restored. I do not wish for this to happen, but it is likely to occur anyway."

This is a major development during the peak phase of U.S.-Iran conflict on April 7, 2026. He was not joking—rather, as the sitting U.S. president at war, he delivered a clear military threat to his adversary.

Trump demanded that Iran restore free passage through the Strait of Hormuz by midnight Greenwich Mean Time on April 7 (8 p.m. Eastern Time in the United States).

He stated that if this ultimatum is ignored, U.S. forces will destroy all of Iran's bridges, power plants, and other critical infrastructure within four hours.

The terrifying warning from Trump—that "the entire civilization will perish tonight"—is essentially a desperate gamble born out of deep entanglement in war and mounting domestic and international crises. The war initiated by the United States has failed to achieve quick victory; instead, it has plunged the Trump administration into an intractable crisis across military, economic, diplomatic, and political fronts, leaving it trapped with no viable way out. This kind of threat reflects anxiety in the White House more than strength. Initially, the Trump administration had hoped Iran would quickly capitulate, but reality shows the conflict has dragged on for nearly 40 days with no sign of victory.

Militarily, despite overwhelming U.S. superiority, the war has turned into a painful attrition conflict for America;

Economically, oil prices have soared, pushing the average U.S. gasoline price from below $3 per gallon before the war to over $4.11 per gallon—shattering Trump’s claim that "America does not need the Strait of Hormuz."

Diplomatically, the U.S. finds itself isolated internationally, surrounded by enemies;

Politically, domestic support is waning rapidly.

Public polling is alarming: nearly 60% of Americans believe the conflict has gone too far, and Trump’s approval rating has dropped to 43%.

Trump is now caught between a rock and a hard place: if he delays the ultimatum again, his personal credibility will be utterly destroyed; if he actually launches a devastating strike, he risks committing war crimes and triggering uncontrollable escalation.

Trump’s “civilization-ending” warning appears more like a rhetorical trap designed to ensnare his opponent. However, the reality is that the United States itself is already deeply entrenched in multiple crises—war, economic turmoil, and reputational damage. Today, every decision Trump makes comes with a heavy price, and there is no easy path toward the "victory" he desires.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861827789533196/

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