Trump Fumes Over Missile Shortage
US president faces reports of dramatically depleted weapons stockpiles in the war against Iran, with effects already felt in Ukraine.
US president faces reports of dramatically depleted weapons stockpiles in the war against Iran, with effects already felt in Ukraine.
US President Donald Trump reacted furiously on Thursday to media reports of a serious ammunition shortage, threatening lengthy prison sentences for those who leak such information. According to The Washington Post, Trump demanded an explanation from Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth at a Camp David meeting last Friday, believing he had been misled about the state of US weapons stockpiles, depleted in the war against Iran.
Trump took to his Truth Social platform to assert that the US possesses "massive amounts of 'ammunition,' especially certain types," without providing specific figures. "In addition, large quantities are being produced and shipped to the US as needed. Defense companies are building the largest number of facilities and factories in the history of our country," he wrote. At the same time, he warned that "hunters of 'leaks' of these treasonous statements are being pursued" and that "lengthy prison sentences will be sought."
The alleged clash between Trump and Hegseth is detailed by The Washington Post. According to two unnamed sources familiar with the exchange, the president "went after Hegseth, because he thought the ammunition issue was resolved." Hegseth, in turn, shifted responsibility for the situation onto his deputy, Stephen Feinberg.
The figures circulating in the media are alarming. In just the first month of the war against Iran, the US military expended more than 850 Tomahawk cruise missiles, over 1,000 interceptors for Patriot and THAAD systems, and more than 1,300 ATACMS ballistic missiles. CNN reported that nearly 80% of THAAD interceptor stockpiles have been depleted, which, it is said, has impacted Trump's strategy and forced him to cancel planned new strikes on Iran.
The White House and Pentagon are issuing sharp denials. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called the Washington Post report "completely false news." "I was at Camp David with President Trump and Secretary Hegseth. This literally never happened," she wrote on X. Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell added that reports of the clash and weapons shortage are "equally fabricated."
The depletion of American and Western arsenals is already having tangible consequences beyond the direct conflict with Iran. Ukraine, which relies on Western military aid, is experiencing an increasing shortage of air defense missiles, further complicating its fight against Russian aggression.
Trump's escalation of rhetoric comes at a time when Iran and Oman are finalizing an agreement on the geographic coordinates of a proposed shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stated that the two countries are preparing a joint statement covering technical, legal, security, and environmental aspects. Iranian media report that the reopening of the strait depends on the lifting of the US naval blockade of Iranian ports.
