"They Present Us as Weak": The Report That Angered Trump
US President Donald Trump is furious over the leak of information about the depletion of American interceptor stockpiles, which he says presents the US as weak at a time when he is threatening military action against Iran. According to CNN, the military has used nearly 80% of the stockpile of one of the key interceptor types. Trump demands to find the leakers and impose long prison sentences on them.
US President Donald Trump is furious over the leak of information regarding the depletion of American interceptor stockpiles, because in his view the publications present the US as weak precisely at a time when he is threatening further military action against Iran. CNN reported this, citing senior American officials. According to six sources, the issue came up in the cabinet meeting at Camp David last week, and Trump expressed frustration with the media coverage. The sources stressed that the president had been aware of the stockpile problems for months, and his anger stemmed mainly from the sensitive timing. CNN reported that since the beginning of the war, the military has used nearly four-fifths of the stockpile of one of the key interceptor types, and about half of the stockpile of another major defense system. The data also raises concern in Gulf states that rely on American defense systems. A regional source said that Iran conveyed a message that further strikes would be met with attacks on energy or water desalination facilities. Trump spoke with the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The issue of the shortage was raised in discussions preceding the cancellation of new strikes on Iran over the past weekend. Trump claimed that the US has "massive amounts of ammunition," but demanded "long prison sentences" for the leakers and called them "treacherous." The White House insists that his anger is not directed at Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. The Iranian parliament speaker, Mohammad Qalibaf, mocked Trump in a post on X.