if the answer isn't "blockade it and seize every non-US vessel until we get what we want, and keep up a bombardment campaign the like of which the world has never dreamed", it's not going to be a long term solution.
And he doesn't even know how to apply that properly. If you're going to be a bully and use hard power, you have to exercise said hard power against anyone who argues.
Courting controversy gets attention, yes. Think about GTA.