Trump denies US ammo shortage, blames leakers

President Donald Trump on Thursday pushed back against reports of US ammunition shortages, asserting that the United States possesses "enormous quantities of ammunition, especially of certain types." He added that significant amounts are being manufactured and shipped as needed, with defense companies building more plants than ever before.

Trump's statement comes after The Washington Post reported, citing anonymous officials, that the president had expressed frustration over not being informed about a concerning lack of munitions in the Middle East. The report suggested this led to a disagreement between Trump and his Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth.

"We are looking for the culprits who leaked these traitorous statements. Long prison sentences will be requested!" Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social. According to the newspaper, the incident, which the White House press secretary had denied, occurred during a cabinet meeting where Trump allegedly reproached Hegseth, believing the supply issue was resolved.

Sources cited by the Post indicated that the scarcity, particularly of long-range guided missiles and interceptors for air defense systems, influenced Trump's decision not to launch further large-scale attacks against Iran in recent days. The Pentagon and major US defense manufacturers are accelerating plans to boost production of precision weaponry, with companies like Lockheed Martin and RTX working to increase output of systems such as Patriot, THAAD, and Tomahawk missiles. However, officials and analysts caution that substantial industrial capacity increases will require months, if not years, to translate into greater stockpiles. The Pentagon is seeking at least $67 billion in additional funds to replenish arsenals and speed up production, warning of the conflict's potential impact on US military readiness against other potential adversaries like China and Russia.