Donald Trump has denied reports that the US is running short of key munitions in its war with Iran, saying on Thursday that the country has “massive amounts” of ammunition and that more is being manufactured and shipped to the region.
The president’s comments followed reports of an alleged confrontation with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at Camp David last Friday. The White House and Pentagon rejected both the reported exchange and claims that weapons shortages are constraining US military operations.
At a glance:
- Trump said US ammunition stocks were large and that additional supplies were being produced and sent to the region.
- Reports cited by the Washington Post and CNN described alleged shortages of some long-range missiles and air-defence interceptors.
- The White House denied that Trump confronted Hegseth, while the Pentagon called the reports of a dispute and weapons shortages fictional.
- Trump threatened long prison sentences for officials who leak information about military weapons stocks.
What Trump said about US weapons stocks
Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that the US had “massive amounts” of ammunition. He also said more was being manufactured and shipped to the region, and claimed that defence companies were building the largest number of plants and factories in US history.
Related coverage: Iran Attacks Tankers in Hormuz Strait as US War Efforts Stall.
He did not provide details about the specific weapons involved or evidence for the claim about industrial production. Trump also accused the media of spreading “treasonous statements” and said officials responsible for leaks were being pursued, with long prison sentences sought.
What the shortage reports alleged
The Washington Post reported that Trump had demanded answers from Hegseth during a cabinet meeting at Camp David after believing that a previously identified weapons problem had been fixed. The report, which cited two unnamed sources familiar with the exchange, said Hegseth defended himself and sought to shift blame to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg.
CNN separately reported that shortages of long-range guided missiles and air-defence interceptors had begun to constrain Trump’s strategy. It said the military had nearly exhausted 80% of its stock of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or Thaad, interceptors. The Washington Post also reported that concerns about supplies contributed to Trump calling off further strikes against Iran.
More context: Iran and Oman Exchange Proposals on Managing the Strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Officials reject the accounts
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called the account of the Camp David confrontation “FAKE NEWS!” on X, saying she had been present and that the exchange “literally never happened”. She also said Trump supported Hegseth and believed he was doing a tremendous job.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell dismissed the reported confrontation and the weapons-shortage claims as “equally fictional”. He said Hegseth would continue working with Feinberg to carry out Trump’s agenda, strengthen the US defence industrial base and ensure US forces had the capabilities they needed.
Dispute comes amid wider scrutiny of the war
The public dispute comes as Trump seeks to project confidence about the conflict. On Sunday, he said he had ordered and later called off “the biggest attack since World War II” after fresh negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz; Iran’s foreign ministry denied that talks were taking place.
Also read: Iran uses ceasefire to rebuild military strength while Hormuz deal remains uncertain.
The Pentagon has also faced criticism over alleged manipulation of US casualty figures and its failure to hold regular press briefings about the war. The factual status of the reported weapons shortages and Camp David exchange remains disputed by the White House and Pentagon.
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