Hegseth is whining that the "big bad Royal Navy" isn't helping with the Strait of Hormuz

[highplainsdem]

Hegseth: "The president was clear this morning in his Truth that there are countries around the world who ought to be prepared to step up on this critical waterway as well. Last time I checked there was supposed to be a big bad Royal Navy that could be prepared to do things like that."

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-03-31T12:30:38.751Z

[leftstreet]

1. Where's the "big bad" US military?

Or was that just a Hollywood thing

[North Shore Chicago]

2. Shut the fuck up!

You incompetent blathering ninny!

[surfered]

3. I thought Hegseth planned for every contingency.

[gab13by13]

7. He had a plan

to invest in defense contractors right before the war started.

Sailing naval ships up to Hormuz will not be a picnic. There is a reason that our naval ships are parked out of range.

[appleannie1]

4. None of those countries was dumb enough to start another war in the Middle East. You started it, you own it.

[rampartd]

5. what is wrong with this guy?

isn't god on his side?

[hatrack]

6. Yeah, if he's already got Gaw-duh, why does he need the RN?

[GreatGazoo]

8. The UK has more horses for "the King's Guard" than it has tanks

Their navy is likely only these three replica Admiral Nelson tall-masted ships.

England is a free-range theme park.

[GenThePerservering]

10. Da fuk?

[GreatGazoo]

21. "501 horses ... 334 tanks"

Behind the pomp and ceremony, the (horses and) troopers are tasked with protecting the Queen and her family. They also regularly serve overseas on operations and have frequently been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, riding out on patrols in tracked Warrior armoured-personnel carriers.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-22951548

[EYESORE 9001]

13. A-hem...

[hardluck]

22. That Picture is out of date

HMS Ocean was decommissioned in 2018.
HMS Albion was decommissioned in 2025 and sold to Brazil.
HMS Bulwark was decommissioned in 2025 and sold to Brazil.
Of the four Vanguard class SSBNs, HMS Victorious has been in drydock since 2024 and will not be available until at least 2028.
For the Astute class, there are six commissioned, 5 in active service, and 1 in sea trials. One other hull is in construction.
All of the Trafalgar class are decommissioned as of 2025.
Of the 6 Type 45 (Daring class) destroyers, three are in retrofit, (Daring has been in retrofit for 8 years, but is about to come back to active service). That leaves only three active destroyers.
Of the 13 Type 23 (Duke class) frigates build for the Royal Navy, 6 have been decommissioned, 1 is in retrofit, and 6 are active.

There are also the two new carriers - HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.

So currently, the Royal Navy has 2 carriers, 6 destroyers (only three of which are active), 7 frigates (6 of which are active), and various support vessels. This is a shell of the former Royal Navy, even when compared to just 20 years ago, or against the fleet that took back the Falklands. Indeed, the Royal Navy cannot fully man a carrier strike group for its new carriers without support from other countries (US, Netherlands, etc.)

In comparison, look at this picture of the pre-WWII Royal Navy.
]

[MineralMan]

15. Actually, You Don't Know, Do You?

Your statement is incorrect.

[MustLoveBeagles]

9. Let me get this straight

We won't lift a finger to help our allies but they expect these same allies to drop everything and help them fix their fuck up?

[Katinfl]

11. The ships were getting through just fine until the US f'd it up.

You broke it, you own it.

[nitpicked]

12. Trump, Hegseth growing increasingly exasperated with US allies

(snip)
09:12

Pete Hegseth and Gen Dan Caine's briefing at the Pentagon produced very little new information that helps the world understand the course of the ongoing war in Iran.

One thing, however, stands out: the Trump administration is losing patience with what it sees as a lack of involvement from its allies, particularly as it pertains to securing shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier, the US president took to Truth Social, telling those allies to "build up some delayed courage" and "just take" the Strait.
(snip)

The defence secretary later suggested that that perceived failure may have long-term consequences for US allies overseas.
(snip)

[Zambero]

14. Pottery Barn rule of international diplomacy

He who mistakes it and breaks it takes it.

[MineralMan]

16. Hegseth is Totally Incompetent at the Job He Has.

He came to that job as a National Guard Major. Now, he's telling the military's brightest General officers and Admirals what to do, based solely on what Donald Trump tells him to do.

Donald Trump is incompetent in everything, and appoints people who are more stupid and unknowledgeable than himself to cabinet positions. So, it's the Ignorant telling the Incompetent what to do. That's why everything is so fucked up.

There are cluster fucks and there are complete disasters. The Trump administration is both.

[City Lights]

17. This mess is solely on Rapist. Let him clean it up. nt

[Autumn]

18. Kegsbreath is a big bad boy. He can go fight his fucking war he started.

[Wounded Bear]

19. The UK ceded the "biggest, baddest Navy" status to the US in WWII...

We've had it since then.

[CTyankee]

20. SNL is having so much fun with this guy. I think it's Colin Jost who plays him.