Trump denies US weapons shortage, vows action against alleged leakers
Trump said the US possessed "massive amounts" of munitions, particularly of certain types, and added that additional supplies were being manufactured and delivered as needed.
US President Donald Trump has rejected reports suggesting the United States is facing a shortage of munitions, insisting the country has sufficient weapons stockpiles while warning that officials accused of leaking classified information would face severe consequences, BBC reported.
In a post on Truth Social yesterday (6 August), Trump said the US possessed "massive amounts" of munitions, particularly of certain types, and added that additional supplies were being manufactured and delivered as needed.
His remarks come as questions continue over the state of the US military's arsenal following months of conflict involving Iran, with no peace agreement yet in sight.
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Responding to reports of declining US weapons supplies, Iranian Defence Minister Majid Ibn-e-Reza said Iran's domestically produced weapons enabled the country to respond to any threat.
In a post on X, he said signs of the enemy's weakening capabilities were becoming more visible each day and claimed Iran's armed forces, backed by its domestic defence industry, remained fully prepared. He also said countries relying on imported military systems would eventually realise that Iran's indigenous technology was superior to other systems in the region.
The Trump administration has repeatedly sought to reassure the public that US missile inventories remain strong after the military used large quantities of advanced weapons during Operation Epic Fury and the exchanges that followed.
However, media reports have raised concerns over the size of remaining stockpiles.
According to CBS News, citing two unnamed sources with direct knowledge of the matter, the US has used a significant portion of its global inventory of long-range precision missiles during the conflict.
The Washington Post also reported on Wednesday that Trump had questioned Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth last week about a possible weapons shortfall, citing unnamed sources. The BBC said it had not independently confirmed the report.
Trump responded by accusing those responsible for leaking information of committing a serious offence.
"The 'leakers' of these treasonous statements are being hunted down," he wrote on Truth Social, adding that long prison sentences would be sought. In a separate post, he described The Washington Post's reporting as "treasonous" and expressed confidence in Hegseth's performance as defence secretary.
The exact size of US missile stockpiles remains classified. Since taking office, Hegseth has introduced tighter restrictions on the release of information from the Pentagon.
Estimates based on publicly available data, however, suggest inventories have declined.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a US-based national security think tank, estimated that by the end of July the US had between 759 and 827 Patriot missiles remaining, compared with about 2,330 before the conflict began.
Mark Cancian, a retired Marine Corps colonel and senior adviser at CSIS, also said the US had used roughly 60% of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile inventory.
The US is also balancing military commitments elsewhere, including continued support for Ukraine. Since Russia's invasion in 2022, Washington has supplied Ukraine with Patriot missile systems, although analysts expect the Pentagon to become more cautious as inventories decline.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting on Friday, Trump said providing Ukraine with additional Patriot missiles would be "a big step" and noted discussions were still ongoing.
Replacing modern weapons can take considerable time because of lengthy funding, procurement and manufacturing processes.
Despite the reports, the administration has consistently maintained that US military stockpiles remain adequate.
Last month, Trump told The Wall Street Journal that the US had more munitions than any other country and more than it required.
Hegseth also dismissed reports of shortages during a 14 June appearance on CBS' Face the Nation, describing them as a "manufactured story". At the same time, he said the administration was moving quickly to increase weapons production.
Last month, Hegseth requested $87 billion in emergency funding from the US Senate to pay service members and rapidly replenish military equipment and munitions.
