Trump backs away from plan to charge fees in the Strait of Hormuz as attacks intensify

Progressive: Economically damaging proposal — Progressive outlets characterized the toll as burdensome to global commerce and criticized it as undermining U.S. credibility.

Moderate: Strategic assertion — Moderate outlets reported Trump's framing of the U.S. as a 'guardian' controlling access to the strategic waterway.

Conservative: Legally questionable — Conservative outlets questioned whether international law permits unilateral cargo fees on international waters.