Trump confronted Hegseth over weapons shortage due to Iran war? US president reacts

US President Donald Trump has firmly denied reports suggesting he confronted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over alleged shortages of US munitions, labeling the claims as "fake news." This denial came after a report by The Washington Post claimed Trump questioned Hegseth last week after learning of the supposed severe shortages that could potentially limit US military actions against Iran.

Trump, in response, stated on Thursday that the United States possesses an abundant supply of munitions and criticized those spreading such claims, warning of possible prison sentences. He praised Hegseth's performance, stating, "I am extremely happy with the job that Pete Hegseth is doing," on his social media platform, Truth Social.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also refuted the allegations, describing the reported meeting with Hegseth as "FAKE NEWS!" The Washington Post reported that Trump sought clarification from Hegseth during a Cabinet meeting at Camp David, following rumors of the munitions shortage. The report cited unnamed sources who said Trump believed the issue had been resolved.

During their reported exchange, Hegseth defended his actions, blaming his deputy Stephen Feinberg for the shortages and failing to provide accurate information to Trump. The shortage of defensive munitions affected US operations beyond the Middle East, forcing Washington to be more selective about when to deploy interceptor missiles against incoming threats.

Trump has since ordered new investigations into the Pentagon's munitions stockpile, according to administration officials.