Trump denies reports of U.S. munitions shortages

President Trump is rejecting reports that the U.S. military has burned through critical weapons stockpiles during five months of war with Iran, even as media reports and defense analysts point to steep declines in some offensive missiles and air defense interceptors.

“The U.S. has massive amounts of ‘munitions,’ especially of certain types,” Trump wrote early Thursday on Truth Social. “Additionally, large amounts are being manufactured and shipped to the U.S. as needed. Defense companies are building the largest number of plants and factories in our country’s history.” He added that “leakers” of what he called “treasonous statements” were “being hunted down” and that “long term jail sentences will be sought.”

The White House also provided Al Jazeera a statement Tuesday in which Trump said, “We have far more munitions than anyone in the world, and far more than we need,” while blaming former President Joe Biden for giving an “unprecedented amount” to Ukraine and Europe. Trump said that as the U.S. builds up production, “we will start issuing more to our allies in Europe and elsewhere.”

The pushback follows reports that U.S. supplies of both long-range offensive weapons and defensive interceptors have fallen sharply. CBS News reported Tuesday that the U.S. has used nearly all of its global stockpile of long-range precision missiles during the war, citing two sources with direct knowledge of the matter. Those sources said the U.S. has used virtually all of its Army Tactical Missile Systems, known as ATACMS, and Precision Strike Missiles. Reuters first reported that the U.S. had used “virtually all” of those long-range precision missiles during Operation Epic Fury, according to CBS News.

Al Jazeera reported that Reuters and CBS News separately found that the military has used the majority of its ATACMS and Precision Strike Missiles. Two sources told Reuters that “virtually all” of the missiles, which cost about $1 million each, had been used.

U.S. officials have publicly denied that the military lacks what it needs. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said, “America’s military is the most powerful in the world and has everything it needs to execute at the time and place of the President’s choosing.” He said the military has carried out “multiple successful operations across combatant commands” while maintaining “a deep arsenal of capabilities to protect our people and our interests.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also dismissed concerns. “That is a manufactured story that the media wants to peddle and ultimately our stockpiles are great, and they’re only getting stronger,” he said on CBS News’ “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on June 14. Al Jazeera reported that Hegseth challenged a CNN report that the U.S. had depleted 80% of its prewar THAAD interceptors and about half its Patriot interceptors, posting “not true” and “shame on you” on X.

Independent estimates have described significant drawdowns. CBS News cited a July report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies that estimated the U.S. had 2,330 Patriot interceptors before the war and between 759 and 827 by the end of July. The same report estimated the U.S. had 452 THAAD interceptors before the war and between 234 and 278 as of July 27. Another CSIS report estimated it could take until at least mid-2029 to return both inventories to prewar levels.

Mark Cancian, a retired Marine Corps colonel and senior adviser with CSIS, told Al Jazeera that shortages of ATACMS and Precision Strike Missiles would force the military to use other weapons or riskier methods to hit deep targets. He said shortages of air defense interceptors are “much more serious.”

“When we talk about missile defence… we don’t have that many left, and there are no good substitutes,” Cancian said. “If we run out of Patriots, then the missiles get through.”