Trump defends Hegseth after reported clash over munitions at Camp David

Defense Trump defends Hegseth after reported clash over munitions at Camp David Comments: by Filip Timotija - 08/06/26 1:44 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Filip Timotija - 08/06/26 1:44 PM ET Comments: Link copied

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President Trump defended Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday after the two reportedly clashed last week at Camp David over the depletion of the U.S. military’s munition stockpiles during the war with Iran.

“The Fake News, as usual, is spreading false and completely unfounded rumors. I am extremely happy with the job that Pete Hegseth is doing,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

“Everything has been extraordinary, including our attack on Venezuela, where the result was accomplished in less than one day, allowing us to bring one of the worst criminals anywhere in the World, Nicolas Maduro, to Justice,” he added, referring to the U.S. military’s capture and arrest of ex-Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in January.

The president also claimed Iran has been “decimated,” saying the conflict, which began in late February in part to bar the Islamic Republic from developing a nuclear weapon, is going “very well.”

“Pete is highly respected within the Military, and has made tremendous improvements, including getting rid of DEI, and increasing recruitment to historic levels,” he continued, then slammed The Washington Post, which reported early Thursday that Trump demanded answers from Hegseth on why he was misled about the extent of the shortage of U.S. munitions.

“In actuality, I really believe their fake ‘reporting’ is treasonous,” Trump wrote.

The military’s supply of premium long-range missiles and interceptors for a key missile defense system has been nearly exhausted during the war with Iran, which has crossed into its sixth month, news outlets reported on Tuesday.

The shortage of Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM), surface-to-surface munitions which cost $1 million each, has highlighted the worries among some defense officials and experts about the U.S. readiness to fight elsewhere if other conflicts emerge.

Earlier on Thursday, Trump said the U.S. military has “massive amounts” of munitions, adding that “large” amounts are being produced and shipped to the U.S.

“The ‘leakers’ of these treasonous statements are being hunted down,” the president wrote in a Thursday morning post on Truth Social. “Long term jail sentences will be sought!”

The shortage of offensive and defense munitions in the Middle East theater has reportedly played a part in Trump ordering and later calling off the “biggest attack since World War II,” on Iran.

The president has repeatedly backed up the Pentagon chief in public.

When asked in late July if he was frustrated with Hegseth’s advice on Iran in the early days of the Iran war, Trump said the defense secretary has “done a great job.”

Trump noted in late March that Hegseth was the first top administration official to back the U.S. decision to go to war with Iran.

“Pete, I think you were the first one to speak up and you said let’s do it because you can’t let them have a nuclear weapon,” he said at the time.

On Monday, Trump signed an executive order to form a new commission focused on improving the lives of military spouses and families and addressing the challenges they face. The commission will be chaired by Jennifer Rauchet, the wife of Hegseth.