Trump denies US weapons shortage and says information 'leakers' being 'hunted down'

President Donald Trump dismissed claims that the US is experiencing a shortage of munitions, asserting that the country possesses abundant military supplies. Trump's remarks came after several reports suggested the US was running low on weapons, particularly during the ongoing conflict with Iran. The administration has consistently maintained that the US military has sufficient stockpiles of various types of munitions, including long-range precision missiles and Patriot missiles.

However, recent estimates by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) suggest that the US has used around 60% of its terminal high altitude area defense (THAAD) missiles and only has around a third of its initial Patriot missile inventory remaining. Trump's comments on social media platform Truth Social indicated that those responsible for leaking information were being pursued, with long-term jail sentences being sought for the alleged leakers.

The US has been providing significant amounts of Patriot missiles to Ukraine since the country's invasion by Russia in 2022, and as US stocks shrink, the Pentagon may hold onto these missiles to replenish its own supplies.