Trump Slams Hegseth Over Critical Missile Shortages With Iran

President Donald Trump has reportedly thrown a serious fit at Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding critical shortages of munitions that could cripple Washington's military options in Iran, according to sources close to the matter. Two insiders speaking to the Washington Post say Trump lashed out during a Cabinet meeting at Camp David on Friday, telling Hegseth he believed the weapon supply issues had already been solved.

The reality is far grimmer. Shortages of long-range guided missiles and air defence interceptors are now keeping Trump from ordering further large-scale strikes against Iran in recent days. When pressed about these dwindling stocks, sources claim Hegseth immediately blamed his deputy, Stephen Feinberg, accusing him of failing to keep the president fully briefed on the situation.

The White House has firmly rejected this narrative. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt called the reports "100% fake news" and insisted they never happened. She stated that President Trump holds the utmost confidence in Secretary Hegseth. Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell added that Hegseth did not mislead anyone about the military's munitions posture. He further denied that Feinberg was blamed, calling claims of depleted stockpiles or internal disagreements equally fictional. Parnell confirmed that Hegseth is staying put and will continue to work alongside Feinberg to push forward President Trump's agenda.

This latest row follows a tense July Senate hearing where Hegseth fought with Democratic lawmakers over whether he gave the president an accurate picture of the Iran conflict, specifically regarding how long a campaign would strain US weapons reserves. On Thursday, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to deny these claims entirely. He argued that the United States holds massive amounts of munitions and that large quantities are being manufactured and shipped as needed. He noted defense companies are building factories at numbers unseen in our country's history. Trump also warned that anyone leaking such treasonous statements faces long-term jail sentences.

The Army has reportedly burned through nearly its entire arsenal of offensive precision missiles during the five-month war with Iran, sources say. Three officials granted anonymity to discuss these sensitive military matters told Reuters that stocks of Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM) have fallen to staggering new lows. Two of those officials said the US has used virtually all of these missiles from its stockpile.

All three sources voiced deep concern that such low stockpiles could hamper Washington's ability to fend off Russia, China, and other adversaries. Hegseth, Feinberg, and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine have asked Congress to approve an additional $67 billion in military funding to replenish these depleted weapons. The request was deemed necessary by Hegseth last month when testifying before lawmakers.

Trump denied these shortages on Thursday, insisting the US has massive amounts of munitions available. He also stated that large amounts are being manufactured and shipped as needed. Defense companies are reportedly building the largest number of plants and factories in our country's history. The 'leakers' of these treasonous statements are being hunted down, he said, with long-term jail sentences sought for them.

President DJT.' General Dan Caine, who serves as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, sounded the alarm on dwindling supplies in the region and warned the President that such shortages could spike risks for American troops there. Lawmakers are now worried about General Caine and Secretary of War Mr Hegseth acting merely as yes men for the President. A fourth source confirmed that Central Command has burned through nearly all its land-based missiles before the war started in February, though it has since pulled stockpiles from other US depots around the globe. Both ATACMS and PrSM systems deliver long-range strikes with deadly precision without putting US pilots on the line. ATACMS can fly approximately 185 miles, while the newer PrSM system reaches out to about 300 miles. They each cost over £1million per missile, with prices climbing even higher depending on exact specs. The sources refused to say exactly how many of each munition remains in US inventories.

The President has met with executives from Lockheed and other major contractors as the war with Iran drags on and the military's thirst for more ammunition seems unquenchable. 'Our defense companies are, at this moment, making more munitions than they have ever made before, in addition to expanding their plants and equipment at record levels,' Trump has said. These surface-to-surface missile systems are crucial for hitting targets at ranges that could only otherwise be reached by US pilots. Given their long reach, ATACMS and PrSM are favored for strikes against Iran because it keeps pilots far from the front lines where the regime's anti-air systems wait. File image: An explosion erupts following strikes near Azadi Tower close to Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran on March 7, 2026. Experts warn these munitions would also be crucial in any potential conflict with China, noting that any US military strategy near the mainland must employ long-range options. ATACMS have already been given to Ukrainian forces so they could strike deep within Russian territory, further straining the supply of this critical munition.

There are also major concerns among US officials about defensive weapons in the US arsenal. Patriot interceptor missiles and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems, two US-made defensive tools used to shoot down incoming missiles, drones and aircraft, have seen their supplies dwindle too. The Center for Strategic and International Studies released a report last week estimating that 65 per cent of Patriot interceptors had been used since the beginning of the war. The study also found that THAAD interceptor stockpiles were at least 38 per cent lower than levels before the conflict. The President has repeatedly threatened strikes on Iran with overwhelming force, then walked those claims back. On various occasions, Trump has said he called off the strikes because officials in Iran signalled they want to make a deal.