President Trump’s White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt pushed back on a report filed on Wednesday by Washington Post Pentagon correspondent Tara Copp, who wrote on social media: “Exclusive: President Donald Trump’s frustration over the Iran war boiled over at Camp David last week, where he demanded answers from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on why he had apparently been misled on extreme munitions shortages that now threaten to limit military options.”
[NOTE: On Monday, Trump said the U.S. called off a military strike against Iran which would have been the “biggest attack since World War II,” a message Hegseth amplified. On Tuesday, media outlets including CBS News reported “the U.S. has used nearly all of its global stockpile of long-range precision missiles during the war, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the matter.”]
On Thursday, the President denied the claims about a low weapons stockpile, and wrote on social media: “The U.S. has massive amounts of ‘munitions,’ especially of certain types. Additionally, large amounts are being manufactured and shipped to the U.S. as needed. Defense companies are building the largest number of plants and factories in our country’s history. The ‘leakers’ of these treasonous statements are being hunted down. Long term jail sentences will be sought!”
I was at Camp David with President Trump and Secretary Hegseth. This literally never happened, and we told the Washington Post that repeatedly. This B.S. story was shopped to many outlets by someone clearly out to disparage the Secretary, for whatever reason. Unfortunately for… https://t.co/BUwn11nC52
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) August 6, 2026
Leavitt replied to Copp’s report: “I was at Camp David with President Trump and Secretary Hegseth. This literally never happened, and we told the Washington Post that repeatedly. This B.S. story was shopped to many outlets by someone clearly out to disparage the Secretary, for whatever reason. Unfortunately for them, the President loves the Secretary and thinks he’s doing a tremendous job. FAKE NEWS!”
Critics of the Trump administration, including Republican former U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) expressed doubt that Leavitt’s denial had more validity than the Post‘s reporting. Citing Leavitt’s “fake news” assessment, Kinzinger replied, “This is how you know the story is true.”
The Post article, to which Copp contributed, also reported: “Back at Camp David, as he was confronted by Trump over the bare weapons stockpile, Hegseth defended himself and blamed his deputy, Stephen Feinberg, for the shortages and for not ensuring Trump was fully apprised of the issue, both people familiar said.”
[NOTE: Hegseth is also responding to media outlets reporting on the allegedly low munitions supply by calling the outlets “Fake News.”]
With a screenshot of a CNN interview with U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), which included the chyron/banner: “Sources: U.S. Has Used Nearly 80% of Key Missile Interceptors in Iran War, Top Commanders Warn Stockpiles ‘Dangerously Low’”, Hegseth wrote: “That banner is NOT TRUE, @CNN. Shame on you. We don’t hate the Fake News media enough.”
U.S. Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY), a rare dissident voice in the GOP who recently lost his reelection bid, replied to Hegseth asking for specificity. “So what’s the number?” Massie wrote.
So what’s the number ?
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) August 4, 2026