US President Donald Trump has reportedly expressed frustration over media reports revealing dwindling American weapons stockpiles, believing the disclosures project weakness at a critical moment as his administration seeks to pressure Iran into negotiating an end to the ongoing conflict.
According to multiple senior US officials cited by CNN, Trump privately complained during a Cabinet meeting at Camp David last week that reports detailing shortages of key missile systems could undermine America’s bargaining position with Tehran and weaken the country’s image before allies and adversaries alike.
Sources familiar with the discussions said the president was not surprised by the information itself, having been regularly briefed on the state of US munitions inventories for months.
Instead, officials said his anger stemmed from the timing of the leaks and the growing public attention they have received while Washington continues to threaten additional military action against Iran.
Trump has since sought to reassure Americans that the United States remains militarily prepared.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, the president insisted the US possesses “massive amounts” of munitions and said production is being accelerated across the country.
He also acknowledged that some advanced weapons are currently in tighter supply but maintained that the United States still has what he described as a “virtually unlimited supply” of less sophisticated munitions.
The president vowed to pursue severe punishment for those responsible for leaking information about the country’s military stockpiles, calling for lengthy prison sentences for individuals found to have disclosed classified details.
According to administration officials, Trump has directed the US Department of Justice to investigate the leaks, describing those responsible as “treasonous.”
Despite his frustration, White House officials dismissed suggestions that Trump blames Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for the disclosures.
One senior official said the president’s anger is focused solely on those responsible for leaking sensitive information rather than members of his national security team. Trump himself publicly defended Hegseth, saying he remains “extremely happy” with the defense secretary’s performance.
The controversy follows a series of reports indicating that the US military has significantly depleted its inventories of advanced missile defence systems during the conflict with Iran.
According to CNN, the US has used nearly four-fifths of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile inventory and approximately half of its Patriot interceptor missiles compared with pre-war levels.
Military analysts have warned that replenishing those weapons could take considerable time because of production limitations within the US defence industry.
The reported shortages have also raised concerns among Washington’s Gulf allies, many of whom rely heavily on American-made air defence systems to protect against potential Iranian missile and drone attacks.
Officials familiar with regional discussions said Gulf leaders fear that a prolonged conflict could reduce the availability of US defensive support if Iran launches retaliatory strikes against energy infrastructure or desalination facilities across the Middle East.
The concerns come as Iran has reportedly warned Gulf nations that renewed American military attacks could trigger retaliation against strategic energy installations throughout the region.
Trump has held discussions with leaders in Qatar and Saudi Arabia in recent days as efforts continue to prevent further escalation.
According to officials, concerns over dwindling stockpiles were also raised before Trump recently decided to cancel planned new strikes on Iran.
Senior military advisers, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, have reportedly warned the president that an extended military campaign could further strain America’s supply of advanced weapons, particularly those also supporting Israel and Ukraine.
Trump has repeatedly blamed former President Joe Biden’s administration for reducing US military inventories through continued weapons assistance to Ukraine.
Speaking aboard Air Force One late last month, Trump argued that while the United States still possesses significant weapons reserves, he would prefer larger stockpiles, claiming too many had been transferred overseas under the previous administration.
The Pentagon has long acknowledged challenges in expanding weapons production, with demand increasing sharply due to conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza and now Iran.
In response, Trump recently met with executives from major US defence contractors, including Lockheed Martin, to encourage faster production of critical missile systems.
Last month, he also invoked the Defense Production Act to accelerate weapons manufacturing, declaring that current conditions pose a direct threat to US national defence.
However, defence experts caution that increasing production capacity could take several years, meaning any boost in supplies is unlikely to provide an immediate solution as tensions with Iran continue.
SOURCE: CNN