Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Trump confronts Hegseth over missile shortages, threatens leakers
The United States is fighting a war with Iran, and its military has run very low on important weapons called missiles.
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, was not told how low the missile supplies were.
When he found out, he got very upset with his top defence official, Pete Hegseth, and demanded answers.
Mr Hegseth said it was not his fault and blamed his helper, Stephen Feinberg.
Mr Trump told the public that the United States has "massive amounts" of weapons and that reports of shortages are "treasonous statements".
He also said that people who tell the media about shortages should go to prison.
Reports say the United States has almost no short-range ATACMS missiles left and has used up big parts of its other missile supplies.
Because the war cannot continue, Mr Trump is now looking for a peaceful deal to end it.
That deal could give Iran control over an important water route called the Strait of Hormuz, which would be a big win for Iran.
Trump reportedly confronted Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday over being misled about extreme missile shortages in the US–Iran war.
The US military lacks enough missiles to sustain a prolonged campaign, forcing Trump to halt offensive operations against Iran and pursue diplomacy.
Hegseth blamed his deputy, Stephen Feinberg, for the shortages and for failing to ensure Trump was fully briefed.
Stockpiles are critically low: almost no ATACMs remain, while nearly 80% of THAADs, 50% of Tomahawks and 50% of Patriots have been used up.
Trump denied the shortages, calling the reports "treasonous statements" and threatening leakers with prison, while reportedly seeking a deal expected to grant Iran sovereign rights over the Strait of Hormuz.
- Who
- US President Donald Trump confronted Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who blamed Deputy Secretary Stephen Feinberg for the shortages.
- What
- Trump demanded answers about being kept in the dark over US missile shortages that have forced a halt to offensive operations against Iran and a shift to diplomacy.
- When
- Friday, at the sidelines of a Cabinet meeting, days after Trump ordered and then called off a major attack on Iran; Trump's public denial came on Thursday.
- Where
- At a US Cabinet meeting and on Truth Social; the broader context is the US–Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz region.
- Why
- Because the US military has exhausted so many missiles that it cannot sustain a prolonged campaign, and Trump believed the munitions issue had been fixed.
Trump's account
Hegseth's account
Does the US face a missile shortage?
Trump's account
Trump insists the US has "massive amounts" of weapons, brands shortage reports "treasonous statements", and says large amounts are being manufactured and shipped as needed.
Hegseth's account
The Washington Post and CNN report critically low stockpiles — almost no ATACMs left, nearly 80% of THAAD interceptors and 50% of Tomahawks and Patriots used up — which forced Trump to halt offensive operations against Iran and pursue diplomacy.
Who is responsible for the shortages and the failure to brief Trump?
Trump's account
Trump was upset at being misled, believing the munitions issue "had been fixed"; his allies suspect the Pentagon hides the true extent of shortages in a toxic environment where staff fear sharing inconvenient facts.
Hegseth's account
Hegseth blames his deputy, Stephen Feinberg, for the shortages and for failing to ensure Trump was fully briefed.
- US President
- Donald Trump
- Defence Secretary
- Pete Hegseth
- Deputy blamed by Hegseth
- Stephen Feinberg
- ATACMs stockpile
- Basically none left
- THAAD interceptors depleted
- Nearly 80 percent
- Tomahawk missiles depleted
- 50 percent
- Patriot interceptors depleted
- 50 percent
- Deal in the making
- Expected to grant Iran sovereign rights over the Strait of Hormuz
