Al Jazeera commented that US President Donald Trump's remarks on September 12 regarding the Houthi movement might suggest the limitations of US security commitments in the Middle East. In Dublin, Trump stated that the Houthis had contacted the US to avoid conflict and allow ships to pass through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, saying the situation "will work out well."

The commentary believes that Trump's remarks were made after the Houthis completed their control over the strategic port of Mocha, the coastal town of Dhubab, and Perim Island, giving the Houthis direct control over the entrance to one of the world's most important waterways, the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The article analyzes that Trump's stance reflects a narrow US strategic logic, namely that the Bab al-Mandab Strait is less important to US oil interests than to oil supplies for China and other Asian markets, and that Trump believes the Houthis have not targeted US vessels. Furthermore, this stance is also related to US domestic politics, avoiding opening new military fronts before the congressional elections.