Trump frustrated with Hegseth over US munitions shortages amid Iran tensions

According to a report by The Washington Post on Wednesday, a confrontation took place at Camp David last Friday between US President Donald Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. Trump demanded answers from Hegseth over why he had been given an “inaccurate picture” of US military capabilities, as Washington faces shortages of long-range guided missiles and air-defense interceptors.

The shortages have become a constraint on American military options, with the United States running low on Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems needed to protect American personnel stationed at bases that have come under Iranian reprisal. Two people familiar with the situation, cited by The Post, said Trump's frustration boiled over during a Cabinet meeting. The frustration peaked over “why he (Hegseth) had apparently been misled on extreme munitions shortages that now threaten to limit military options with Iran,” the sources told the daily.

Trump told Hegseth that he believed the munitions problem “had been fixed,” according to the sources. Hegseth reportedly attributed responsibility for the shortages and the failure to adequately communicate their extent to Deputy Secretary of War Stephen Feinberg.

The White House has strongly denied that the confrontation occurred. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told The Post that the report was “false” and rejected the account of a dispute between Trump and Hegseth.

The depletion of THAAD systems is particularly significant for US forces, given that Iranian strikes have targeted American personnel and positions in the region. The shortages have also been cited as a reason Trump has refrained from ordering additional major strikes against Iran.

According to Mehr News Agency, the report highlights ongoing tensions within the US administration regarding military readiness and strategy towards Iran.