Trump Goes After Pentagon Leakers
President Trump on Thursday rejected reports that the U.S. military is running low on key munitions during the ongoing conflict with Iran, insisting the country has ample weapons stockpiles and warning that officials responsible for leaking classified information are being investigated.
“The U.S. has massive amounts of ‘munitions,’ especially of certain types,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Additionally, large amounts are being manufactured and shipped to the U.S. as needed.”
His comments came after several media reports claimed the Pentagon has significantly depleted inventories of advanced missiles during nearly six months of military operations in the Middle East.
According to reports citing officials familiar with the matter, the Army has used nearly all of its Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM), both long-range weapons that cost more than $1 million each.
Other reports stated the U.S. military has also expended roughly 80 percent of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor missiles and about half of its Patriot missile interceptors since the conflict began.
The Pentagon announced earlier this week that it had reached agreements with defense contractors Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin to significantly increase missile production.
Under the new contracts, production of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptors is expected to triple, while THAAD interceptor production will increase fourfold, according to the Defense Department.
Trump also highlighted the expansion of the U.S. defense industry, saying American manufacturers are building more defense plants and factories than ever before.
The president directed sharp criticism at those he believes leaked information about military stockpiles.
“The ‘leakers’ of these treasonous statements are being hunted down,” Trump wrote, adding that his administration would pursue “long term jail sentences” for those responsible.
The comments follow the Justice Department’s recent efforts to identify government officials who disclosed sensitive information to the media. Last month, federal prosecutors subpoenaed four reporters as part of an investigation into leaked information concerning security concerns surrounding a Qatari aircraft being used as Air Force One before the investigation was later dropped.
The White House also denied reports that Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth clashed during a meeting at Camp David over dwindling munitions supplies.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who attended the meeting, called the report completely false.
“This literally never happened,” Leavitt wrote on social media, adding that the story was pushed by someone attempting to undermine Hegseth.
She also said Trump “loves” Hegseth and believes he is doing “a tremendous job” leading the Defense Department.
White House communications director Steven Cheung likewise dismissed the report, calling it “fake news.”
