Donald Trump has publicly denied reports that the United States is running low on key munitions in its ongoing conflict with Iran. On Thursday, August 6th, 2026, Trump asserted that the US possesses "massive amounts" of ammunition and that additional supplies are being manufactured and shipped to the region. He also warned of severe penalties for officials leaking information about military weapons stocks.

Trump's comments came after a report that he demanded answers from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding alleged shortages during a cabinet meeting held last Friday at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland. According to the Washington Post, Trump expressed feeling misled, believing the issue "had been fixed." Hegseth reportedly defended himself and attempted to shift responsibility to his deputy, Stephen Feinberg.

The US military has reportedly "nearly exhausted 80%" of its stock of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (Thaad) interceptors, a key missile defense system. The Washington Post also indicated that concerns over dwindling munitions contributed to Trump calling off further strikes against Iran, despite his prior threats to strike the Islamic Republic "very hard."

Despite these reports, Trump expressed strong support for Hegseth on social media, stating, "I am extremely happy with the job that Pete Hegseth is doing," and accused media outlets reporting shortages of "spreading false and completely unfounded rumors."

Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host who refers to himself as the secretary of war, recently announced a screening program for "testosterone deficiency" among US troops.

Sources