Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is down by about 97%. That’s a huge problem for the world economy because nearly 20% of the global oil supply flows through the Strait. What makes it worse is that the oil that is flowing is on Chinese ships and the transactions are in Chinese yuan. That’s not good for the United States or for the U.S. dollar.

This is only the latest in a long list of actions taken by Trump that weaken the U.S. economy and our standing abroad. Over time, it's impossible for the world not to question if America should play such a central role in the global economic system.

The U.S. benefits from global commerce because American dollars are often involved on one side or the other, but the dollar’s dominance is not a promise and the reserve currency can change over time. If the world begins to transition away from the dollar, it will be viewed as one of the greatest geopolitical blunders of all time. Costs and inflation would rise, which could raise interest rates — all of that is more money out of the pockets of families. 

All of this risk and instability could've been avoided if we had a president who considered the fact that Iran could disrupt the Strait of Hormuz before launching a major war.

I traveled through the Strait when I was aboard the USS Midway in the First Gulf War. In that war, we had a clear strategy and goal from the start, and we executed our mission without getting caught up in a long, bloody war that cost thousands of American lives. I worry that's where this war with Iran is headed if things don't change.

Hundreds of American servicemembers have been injured and more than a dozen have lost their lives already. I don't want to see any more.