United States President Donald Trump is furious over the rapid decline in long-range missile reserves held by the U.S. military and the consequences this may have for the development of the war in Iran, according to several U.S. media outlets. The Republican has expressed his dissatisfaction with this situation, which he was already warned about when the first bombings on Tehran began nearly six months ago.
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The U.S. leader demanded explanations from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last week. After an unusual televised cabinet meeting at Camp David, Trump scolded Hegseth for the shortage of long-range missile arsenal, something that is conditioning operations in Iran, according to The Washington Post. The Republican reproached him that the issue was still unresolved, despite having ordered it to be solved months ago.
Although there are different versions about the degree of disagreement between the two politicians, the fact is that Trump is angry about the situation. His cabinet denies the quarrel he had with Hegseth at Camp David, although The Washington Post and CNN confirmed it. The president complains about the worrying decrease in missile reserves and the leaking of information because it leaves the United States in a weaker position when trying to push negotiations with Iran in search of a ceasefire.
Trump was warned of the risk of a military incursion into Iran, according to the book Regime Change, Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump, by The New York Times journalists Margaret Haberman and Jonathan Swan. CIA Director John Ratcliffe said the arguments given to him to attack Tehran “were a farce.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President J. D. Vance also expressed their objections. Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine warned Trump that he did not have enough reserves to sustain a prolonged conflict. But the former New York real estate developer said “he had a good feeling” after the success of the operation in Venezuela.
The president assured that the attacks against Iran would last only four or five weeks, but months have passed without significant progress. He is trapped in a war he is unable to exit three months before midterm elections that will define the limits of his power and the scope of his legacy. “If we don’t win in November,” he said Thursday in an interview with Punchbowl News, “I will be the last Republican president in the United States.”
The debate over whether the United States has enough ammunition to sustain a long military campaign against Iran has intensified this week after the president announced last Sunday that he was going to launch “the largest attack since World War II” against the Islamic Republic and canceled it hours later arguing that talks with Iran could be resumed.
Several reports warn about the decrease in long-range missiles such as THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) and Patriot missiles. CNN reported last week that the military has consumed almost four-fifths of its THAAD missile inventory and half of the Patriot interceptor missiles.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) published a study a week ago explaining the reasons for the shortage of U.S. ammunition. “While its use in the war against Iran is an important factor, it is not the only one. There are other reasons — strategic, industrial, institutional, and operational — why the Department of Defense lacks the necessary ammunition reserves,” say Mark F. Cancian and Chris H. Park, authors of the CSIS report. The document reveals that between February, when attacks against Iran began, and July, the U.S. military consumed 65% of the Patriot missiles manufactured by Raytheon. They also warn that THAAD interceptor reserves are 38% lower than at the start of the war.
The situation is worrying in Washington. “We need more all the time. We have given a lot to Ukraine. Biden’s people offered them for free. Fortunately, I accumulated a lot during my term. I rebuilt the military and also loaded it with many things,” Trump said Thursday to reporters when asked why the Pentagon requested Congress for an additional $67 billion (almost 58 billion euros) in funds for the military to cover the costs of the Iran war.
“We have certain types of very powerful ammunition, with an almost unlimited supply. We have others where it is a bit tighter, but we receive them daily,” he acknowledged, implying there is a shortage of one type of missile. “Our defense companies are building more plants right now than at any other time in history. They are building plants for Patriots, for Tomahawks, for everything,” he added without specifying that plants take years to build and that from the moment the Department of Defense signs missile supply contracts with Lockheed Martin or Raytheon, it can take months, if not years, for orders to reach military arsenals.
Trump tried to downplay the issue because he recognizes it puts him in a worse position when sitting down to negotiate with Iran. He recalled that the U.S. military has other types of ammunition with an almost unlimited supply. “They may not be as precise, they may not be as elite. But we have certain types that are very powerful and very good, and we have an unlimited supply, so we are in very good shape,” he insisted.
Doubts about the real situation of the U.S. arsenal have put the spotlight on Hegseth, the Pentagon chief, a former Fox News conservative channel presenter, who has accumulated several controversies. He has wanted to change the name of his department to call it the “War Department,” instead of Defense. He wants to do testosterone tests on military personnel, has had several clashes during his congressional appearances, and has fired several career military commanders who had objections about his warlike zeal in favor of others without experience. The book Regime Change describes an episode that reflects his character. During the campaign of harassment against Venezuela, he showed every morning videos of drone attacks on human targets, described by an official as “Hegseth’s snuff films,” referring to the extreme violence they showed.
Despite the controversial management of his Secretary of Defense, Trump wrote a message of support on Truth, his social network, on Thursday. “I am extremely happy with the work Pete Hegseth is doing. Everything has been extraordinary,” he assured and then threatened with treason anyone who questioned his performance. Trump has also ordered to pursue those who doubt the capacity of the U.S. military reserves. “Those who leak these traitorous statements are being hunted. Long prison sentences will be sought!” he added in another post.
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