Trump Vows Jail Terms for Those Claiming US Ammunition Shortage

US President Donald Trump on Thursday rejected reports about an ammunition shortage and said his administration would seek long prison sentences for people who spread such claims.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump reacted sharply to media coverage of dwindling ammunition reserves, insisting that the United States has a massive amount of ammunition, especially of certain types, without elaborating. He added that large quantities are being produced and sent to the US as needed. "Defense companies are building the largest number of factories in our country's history," Trump said.

The Washington Post had reported that Trump last Friday demanded answers from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about the ammunition shortage. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the report as fake news, emphasizing that the conversation never happened. The Pentagon's chief press secretary also said reports of a clash between Trump and Hegseth and of weapons shortages were fabricated.

Precise information about US missile stockpiles remains classified. Since taking office, Hegseth has sought to impose strict control, including limiting what journalists can obtain from the Pentagon.

Using publicly available data, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimated that by the end of July the US had between 759 and 827 Patriot missiles, compared with 2,330 before the war with Iran. The center also estimated that the US has used approximately 60% of its THAAD missiles.