Trump disputes reports of U.S. munitions shortages, says production is increasing
President Trump claimed the United States has ample munitions and is expanding production, countering reports that long-range missile stocks are depleted amid the conflict with Iran.
President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social platform on Thursday that the United States possesses "massive amounts of munitions" and that defense firms are building the largest number of plants and factories in the country's history. He added that large quantities are being manufactured and shipped as needed and warned that individuals leaking information would face long prison terms.
Media reports earlier in the week said the U.S. has used nearly all of its global stockpile of long-range precision missiles, including Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles, during the ongoing war with Iran. Sources cited by CBS News indicated that inventories of these weapons, as well as Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors, have been sharply reduced.
A Center for Strategic and International Studies analysis estimated that Patriot missiles fell from about 2,330 before the conflict to between 759 and 827 by the end of July, while THAAD interceptors dropped from 452 to roughly 234-278 in the same period. The same study projected that restoring pre-war levels could take until at least mid-2029.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told CBS News that the U.S. military remains the most powerful in the world and has the capabilities needed for any operation the president chooses. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth previously dismissed concerns about stockpiles, describing them as a "manufactured story" and asserting that the inventories are strong and improving.