'Far more than we could ever use': Trump makes unusual Iran war claim

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump said on Thursday, September 3, that the United States has “virtually unlimited amounts” of ammunition for the Iran war and accused people and media outlets questioning supplies of being “treasonous.”

The claim comes as reports cited declining stocks of Patriot and THAAD interceptors after months of weapons use in Iran.

Trump made the remarks in two Truth Social posts, first attacking those questioning American ammunition supplies and then expanding his defense of US stockpiles.

Trump says critics are treasonous

Trump said those “harping on the fact that we have no ammunition” were “100% wrong,” accusing them of preferring a US defeat to his victory.

In a second post about a minute later, Trump called them “treasonous SCUM” and said the United States had “virtually unlimited amounts of Mid to High Grade Ammunition, far more than we could ever use for this, or for any other War (which is highly unlikely!), that could improbably take place.”

He also said the US was producing munitions “at levels never seen before,” while stockpiling weapons and taking supplies for itself rather than selling them to other countries. 

Trump said sales to allies would soon resume.

The posts came after a report by The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and other news agencies described US Army stocks of highly accurate long-range missiles as having used up much of the global inventory. 

The reports also said defensive weapons stocks were “dwindling” after repeated use of systems including Patriot and THAAD.

Reports cite declining missile stocks

CSIS estimated that US Patriot inventory fell from 2,330 missiles on Feb 27 to between 759 and 827 by July 27. 

Its estimate for THAAD interceptors fell from 452 to between 234 and 278 over the same period.

Trump previously dismissed reports of stockpile drawdowns, saying the US has “massive amounts of ‘munitions’, especially of certain types” and that large amounts were being manufactured and shipped to the US as needed.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also rejected claims of a munitions stockpile crisis, calling it a “manufactured story” and saying America’s “stockpiles are great, and they’re only getting stronger.”

Rebuilding stocks could take years

The dispute also extends to how quickly the United States can replace weapons. 

The Hill reported that it could take “at least a few years” to replenish stocks to pre-Iran war levels.

Jerry McGinn of CSIS said expanding production requires permits, approvals, construction, and qualification, making it difficult to quickly increase output.

CSIS said the Trump administration’s fiscal year 2027 budget includes $11 billion for THAAD, but deliveries would not begin until mid-2029. 

The report said those deliveries would complete the replacement of Iran war usage by the end of 2029.

For Patriot, FY 2027 procurement is scheduled to begin delivery in May 2029, while CSIS analyst Mark Cancian said that prewar inventory levels would not be reached until 2030.

Trump also contrasted US supplies with aid provided under the Biden administration, saying it gave far more munitions to Ukraine at no cost and that the United States was taking weapons for itself.

Meanwhile, the US Army has announced production capacity, including an ammunition facility in Iowa and an artillery plant in Kansas.

The Forbes report said such facilities can increase capacity, but will take time to produce new weapons.