Trump opens investigation over leak of US' lack of munitions at critical phase of conflict – report
US President Donald Trump has privately expressed frustration that information about shrinking US munitions stockpiles has become public, arguing that the disclosures make the United States appear weak as he threatens further military action to pressure Iran into reaching a deal, CNN reported, citing senior US officials.
Trump raised the issue during a cabinet meeting at Camp David last week, according to sources cited by the report, with the president focused on media coverage describing low US munitions stocks.
CNN also reported that Trump had known for months about possible shortages of key US missiles, with his anger instead centered on the timing of the disclosures and the increasingly public debate over the stockpiles while he sought to project US strength.
“The US has massive amounts of ‘munitions,’ especially of certain types,” Trump wrote on Truth Social shortly after midnight on Thursday. “Additionally, large amounts are being manufactured and shipped to the US as needed. Defense companies are building the largest number of plants and factories in our country’s history.”
Trump nevertheless appeared to confirm that supplies of some weapons were limited. He threatened “long-term jail sentences” for anyone found responsible for releasing the information.
Speaking later in the Oval Office, Trump said certain munitions were in “tighter” supply, while maintaining that the United States had a “virtual unlimited supply” of less advanced weapons.
Trump targets officials responsible for disclosures
White House officials said Trump had not directed his anger at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. In a separate Truth Social post on Thursday, the president said he was “extremely happy with the job that Pete Hegseth is doing.”
“He has never blamed Pete. This is all about the leakers,” one official told CNN.
Trump also reportedly instructed the Justice Department to identify individuals inside the administration who disclosed the information, as he described those responsible as “treasonous.”
Long-range missile inventories depleted during Iran war
On Tuesday, several people familiar with the data regarding US missile stockpiles revealed that America had used up much of its stockpile of highly accurate long-range missiles during its five-month war with Iran.
The missiles are principally the Army’s surface-to-surface weapons, known as Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM). The US has used “virtually all” of these weapons, according to two of the sources.
The degree to which the military is running out of ATACMS and Precision Strike Missiles has not been previously reported.
The long-range munitions, which cost more than $1 million each, are an important part of the military’s arsenal, allowing accurate strikes from a safe distance. US-supplied ATACMS have played a key role in the war in Ukraine, allowing Ukrainian forces to attack targets inside Russia. The PrSM is a newer, more advanced generation that will replace the ATACMS, which have a shorter range.
The dramatic rundown in precision, long-range missiles means US President Donald Trump may have to rely more on riskier, piloted bombing missions if he relaunches large-scale attacks on Iran.
The sources declined to say how many of each munition the US had left.
Reuters contributed to this report.
