Trump blasts ‘treasonous’ claim US is running out of missiles: ‘We’ll hunt them down’ | World | News
Donald Trump has launched a furious attack on reports that the US is running short of key missiles, branding claims “treasonous” and threatening leakers with long prison terms. In a Truth Social post early on Thursday, the US President insisted America still possesses “massive amounts of ‘munitions,’ especially of certain types.” He added that large quantities were being manufactured and shipped as needed, while defence companies were building “the largest number of plants and factories in our country’s history.”
He wrote: “The ‘leakers’ of these treasonous statements are being hunted down. Long term jail sentences will be sought!”
His broadside followed a series of reports this week that the five-month conflict has severely depleted stocks of critical weapons. Media outlets, including CBS, have claimed the US Army has used “virtually all” of its Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM) – long-range, highly accurate surface-to-surface weapons central to strikes deep inside Iran.
Defensive systems have also been heavily drawn down. Estimates from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies indicated Patriot interceptor stocks had fallen sharply from pre-war levels of around 2,300, while Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors were reduced by roughly 40% or more.
CNN reported that nearly 80% of THAAD interceptors had been expended. Tomahawk cruise missile inventories were said to be down by almost half.
The Washington Post reported that Mr Trump had confronted Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth at Camp David last week after a Cabinet meeting, expressing frustration that he believed the munitions issue “had been fixed.” The White House dismissed that account, describing it as “100% fake news.” Mr Hegseth has publicly rejected claims of critical shortages.
The depleted stocks have constrained military options. Officials have indicated concerns over readiness for potential future conflicts, including in Asia, and contributed to decisions to scale back or delay larger strike packages against Iran in recent weeks. Production of many of these advanced munitions takes years to ramp up fully, even with accelerated industrial efforts.
Mr Trump’s intervention comes as the administration faces growing pressure to end an unpopular war ahead of congressional elections.
The conflict, launched on February 28 with stated goals of toppling the Tehran government and ending its nuclear programme, has settled into a grinding fight over the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian assertions of control and attacks on shipping have brought traffic through the critical waterway — once carrying a fifth of the world’s traded oil and gas — to a near halt, driving up global fuel and commodity prices.
Iran said on Wednesday it was in the “final stage” of drafting an agreement with Oman over the strait. Mr Trump has said a deal could be announced this week, potentially reopening the waterway and easing economic pressure.
Regional officials told the Associated Press that Iranian and Omani negotiators had finalised a draft awaiting approval from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.
