"I thought the problem was solved": The shortage that led to the confrontation between Trump and Hegseth
According to the Washington Post, the president was furious after discovering that US ammunition stockpiles had significantly depleted, affecting the continuation of the campaign against Iran. The White House and the Pentagon deny the report.
Tensions between US President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reached a boiling point during an administration meeting at Camp David last Friday, against the backdrop of a severe shortage of missiles and interceptors arising from the prolonged war with Iran. This was reported by the Washington Post, citing two sources familiar with the conversation.
According to the report, Trump demanded that Hegseth explain why he had received a misleading picture regarding US ammunition stockpiles. The president stated he was convinced that the inventory problem "had already been solved." The shortage, especially of long-range guided cruise missiles and air defense interceptors, was a key factor in his decision to refrain from additional large-scale attacks against Iran in recent days.
On Monday, Trump stated he had ordered what he defined as the "greatest attack since World War II," but canceled it following reports of renewed progress in negotiations regarding the Strait of Hormuz.
Sources indicate that when confronted, Hegseth defended his conduct and placed the responsibility on his deputy, Stephen Feinberg, claiming he failed to ensure the president received full information. The confrontation reflected Trump's growing frustration with the Secretary of Defense, who had been a prominent supporter of the campaign against Iran, presenting it as a move that could end in a relatively quick and easy victory.
Data illustrates the scale of the attrition:
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In the first month of the war alone, the US launched more than 850 Tomahawk cruise missiles.
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Over 1,000 Patriot and THAAD interceptors were utilized.
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More than 1,300 ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles were fired in the initial weeks.
According to one source, stockpiles were depleted to the point that almost no missiles of these types remained. The shortage of interceptors is already affecting Ukraine, leaving it more exposed to Russia's long-range attacks and forcing the US to adjust its threat interception protocols.
Even before the war, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Kane, warned that the US lacked the stockpiles to conduct a prolonged campaign. Hegseth, Feinberg, and General Kane have requested an additional $67 billion from Congress to fund the war and replenish inventories. Even with new production agreements, manufacturing some missiles may take approximately two years.
The White House has categorically denied the report. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated:
"This is 100% fake news. It simply never happened, and President Trump has full confidence in Secretary Hegseth."
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell added that Hegseth "did not mislead anyone regarding the state of our ammunition and did not blame Deputy Secretary Feinberg," labeling reports of internal disputes and depletion as "fictional."
