Trump Interrogates Defense Secretary Over Ammunition Shortages, Sparking Blame Shifting

U.S. President Donald Trump reprimanded the Defense Secretary and pressed him for answers over ammunition shortages severe enough to limit military options in the war with Iran, the Washington Post reported on the 5th (local time).

According to the report, President Trump pressed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the ammunition shortage during a Cabinet meeting he hosted at Camp David, Maryland, on July 31.

Sources speaking on the condition of anonymity said that President Trump vented his frustration at Secretary Hegseth, noting that he had thought the ammunition shortage issue had been resolved.

The U.S. government has newly concluded production agreements with U.S. defense contractors for key munitions such as Patriot interceptor missiles, but actual production is projected to take up to two years.

Another source stated that shortages of long-range guided missiles and air defense interceptors also contributed to President Trump recent decision to call off a large-scale strike against Iran.

The Washington Post previously reported that during the first month of the war with Iran, the U.S. military fired 850 Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles and more than 1,000 Patriot and THAAD interceptor missiles.

Reuters also reported earlier this week that during the first week of the outbreak of the war with Iran, the U.S. military used more than 1,300 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) surface-to-surface missiles, leaving stockpiles nearly depleted.

Upon being interrogated by President Trump, Secretary Hegseth reportedly defended himself by shifting the blame for failing to properly report the ammunition inventory shortages onto Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg.

Citing sources, the Washington Post analyzed that as the war with Iran prolongs, President Trump confidence in Secretary Hegseth, who was one of the vocal advocates for strong military action against Iran, is diminishing.

In response to inquiries from the Washington Post regarding the matter, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, "This is 100 percent fake news and that never happened," adding, "President Trump has total confidence in Secretary Hegseth."

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.