Internet erupts with memes as Trump declares ceasefire extension

The internet has erupted with memes following Donald Trump’s last-minute indefinite extension to the ceasefire with Iran and his decision to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed. 

Social media users lambasted the US president for blinking despite his tough rhetoric against Iran. 

In a post to Truth Social last night, he wrote that ‘based on the fact that the government of Iran is seriously fractured’, the US military would hold off striking ‘until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal.’

But the announcement came just hours after Trump claimed in an interview that he had no plans on extending the ceasefire. 

Asked by CNBC whether he wanted to push the ceasefire deadline any further, he said: ‘Well, I don’t want to do that.’

Following the chaos, social media users began comparing the US’ war with Iran to the 1993 Bill Murray film ‘Groundhog Day’, in which the main character experiences the same day over and over again. 

One social media user posted an AI-generated image of Bill Murray’s character on a cliff face in front of what appears to be a representation of the Strait of Hormuz, the vital waterway that remains under a blockade. 

Others referenced the infamous ‘TACO’ phrase, which stands for ‘Trump Always Chickens Out’, a reference to the US president’s tendency to back down from major geopolitical decisions upon seeing how badly they are received. 

One stand-out meme depicted an AI-generated Trump submissively kneeling as he accepted a plate of tacos from a group of men, including Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s new Supreme Leader. 

The photo was accompanied by a caption that read: ‘It’s TACO f***ing Tuesday everyone!’ 

Many also mocked US vice president JD Vance, who was set to travel to Pakistan’s capital Islamabad for talks with Iran. 

One set of photos posted by a social media user depicted him as the infamous Mr. Bean meme, which shows Rowan Atkinson’s character checking his watch before falling asleep on the ground.

Another set of images depicted Trump, Vance and several other US officials sat at a table without the Iranian delegation, posted with the caption: ‘How was the ceasefire extended.’ 

Prior to Trump’s announcement of the ceasefire’s indefinite extension, JD Vance had cancelled his trip to Pakistan for a peace summit with Iran, according to Associated Press. 

The Vice President was expected to lead US negotiations with Iran in Islamabad before the two-week ceasefire’s expiration.

The President previously claimed he was poised to resume bombing if Tehran refuses to come to the table. 

The threat appeared to do little to force Tehran into backing down, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) firing on a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz in the early hours of this morning, damaging the ship and further raising the stakes as planned ceasefire talks in Pakistan failed to materialise. 

The President imposed the blockade on the Strait of Hormuz after Tehran refused to suspend its nuclear program. Pictured: Satellite image of the Strait of Hormuz

Peace talks have reached a standstill over Trump’s naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which accounts for a fifth of global oil trade. Pictured: Vessels near the Strait of Hormuz on March 11, 2026

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre said the attack happened around 7.55am local time in the strait and targeted a container ship.

The UKMTO said a Guard gunboat did not hail the ship before firing. 

It said no one was hurt and there was no environmental impact from the attack.

Iran’s semiofficial Fars and Tasnim news agencies, believed to be close to the Guard, both reported on the attack, citing the UKMTO.

Fars went further to describe Iran as ‘lawfully enforcing’ its control over the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of the world’s crude oil and natural gas traded once passed.

However, the strait had been considered an international waterway for the world’s shippers despite being in the territorial waters of both Iran and Oman.

The latest ceasefire extension came at the request of Pakistani intermediaries, according to Trump. 

Peace talks have reached a standstill over Trump’s naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which accounts for a fifth of global oil trade.

The President imposed the blockade after Tehran refused to suspend its nuclear program.

In recent days, US forces have begun boarding and seizing tankers destined for Iranian ports. 

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammed-Bagher Ghalibaf said on Monday the regime is ‘prepared’ to renew fighting against US-Israel forces in the Middle East.

‘We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats, and in the past two weeks, we have prepared to reveal new cards on the battlefield,’ he wrote on X.

Trump reportedly aimed to use the Hormuz blockade to pressure Tehran back into talks after the initial Vance-led negotiations collapsed.

However, it appears the President’s move has empowered hardliners within Iranian leadership who are against further diplomatic talks with the US.