A short post, a few sentences and no room for ambiguity. Donald Trump launched a fierce attack on the media on Tuesday, attempting to refute reports that American ammunition is running low due to the war with Iran .
The reports that provoked his reaction were not limited to a simple observation. According to them, Pentagon officials are warning that an end to the conflict must be brought about, one way or another , precisely because supplies are being squeezed.
The US president’s response came via social media. ” Cowards and traitors would love to say that the United States is running out of ammunition. It is not true. We have more ammunition than we could ever imagine using, and we are now producing it at levels never seen before,” he said.
The intensity of the language is itself indicative. The characterization of those mentioned in the issue as “cowards and traitors” shows that the White House treats the reports not as simple journalistic information but as a blow to the image of the country’s deterrent power . And this makes sense. In an active conflict, the opponent’s perception of how much the other side can withstand is part of the strategy itself.
The issue, however, is not new to public debate in the US. The rate of consumption of modern munitions, especially interceptor missiles, in conditions of prolonged conflict has been repeatedly raised by analysts and military circles, with the question mainly concerning whether industrial production can keep up. The president’s assurance of production at unprecedented levels answers precisely this point.
The question that remains is whether the denial is enough to close the debate. As long as the information comes from the Pentagon itself and the war with Iran continues, the gap between official statements and leaks from the military apparatus is likely to remain at the center of American news.
