President Trump has denied reports that the US is running low on key munitions in its war with Iran, threatening long prison sentences for officials leaking such information.
President Donald Trump has pushed back hard against reports suggesting the United States is running low on important weapons stockpiles in its conflict with Iran. He went as far as threatening lengthy prison sentences for anyone leaking details about the military’s weapons supplies.
On Thursday, Trump insisted the country has “massive amounts” of ammunition on hand, adding that even more is currently being produced and sent to the region. His comments came as his frustration over how the conflict is being covered boiled over into a direct attack on the press.
“Defense companies are building the largest number of plants and factories in our country’s history,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, though he didn’t offer any evidence or specifics about which weapons systems he was referring to.
What Sparked The Reaction
Trump’s outburst followed a report claiming he had confronted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over alleged weapons shortages during a cabinet meeting last Friday at Camp David. According to the Washington Post, which cited two unnamed sources familiar with what was said, Trump told Hegseth he felt misled, since he had believed the shortage issue was already resolved. The Post reported that Hegseth defended himself during the exchange and pointed to his deputy, Stephen Feinberg, as being responsible.
Trump didn’t hold back in his response Thursday, accusing media outlets of pushing “treasonous statements” and vowing consequences for whoever was behind the leaks. “The ‘leakers’ of these treasonous statements are being hunted down,” he wrote. “Long term jail sentences will be sought!”
Separate Reports Point To Missile Shortages
CNN reported separately that shortages of long range guided missiles and air defense interceptors have started limiting Trump’s options in the conflict. According to the network, the US military had used up nearly 80% of its supply of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or Thaad, interceptors.
The Washington Post also reported that these supply concerns played a role in Trump’s decision to hold off on further strikes against Iran, a notable shift given his repeated public threats to strike the country “very hard.”
White House And Pentagon Push Back
Both the White House and the Pentagon flatly denied the reports. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called the account of the Camp David confrontation “FAKE NEWS!” in a post on X, writing that she was present at Camp David with both Trump and Hegseth and that the described exchange “literally never happened.”
Leavitt also moved to shut down any speculation about Hegseth’s job security, saying Trump “loves the Secretary and thinks he’s doing a tremendous job.”
