Officials reveal what Trump says in private as crisis keeps him up at night

CNN on Friday reported on the current status of the U.S. war in Iran, noting “Iranian lawmakers are at work on a bill that would bar vessels from the U.S., Israel and other countries Tehran considers hostile from sailing through the Strait of Hormuz.” The report also indicated that “senior U.S. officials say President [Donald] Trump is furious over reports that some U.S. munitions are being depleted in the war with Iran, and that he has privately complained that this is making the U.S. look weak in negotiations.”

Trump on Thursday ordered a leak investigation into reports about the Pentagon’s dwindling munitions stockpile, the Wall Street Journal reports. According to the Journal, “Trump made the demand after weeks of media headlines describing depleted munitions levels associated with the war, according to administration officials, despite administration assurances that the U.S. has what it needs to fight Tehran and world powers such as Russia and China.”

“The president’s frustration with the war has grown, advisers say, as he sees few good options to force Iran into dismantling its nuclear program or more broadly bringing an end to the conflict,” the report continues. The Journal describes Trump as being “roiled” by the reporting, with one administration official “saying the negative headlines drove him ‘crazy.’” The Washington Post reported Thursday that Trump got into a heated exchange with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth during a Cabinet meeting at Camp David last week. The White House has denied the report, the Journal notes.

Trump on Thursday took to Truth Social in an effort to change the narrative around the U.S. munitions stockpile.

"The U.S. has massive amounts of 'munitions,' especially of certain types," Trump wrote. "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," Trump pledged. "Long term jail sentences will be sought!"

CNN military analyst Col. Cedric Leighton (Ret.) on Friday called reports about dwindling munitions “a big problem,” telling host Sara Sidner the issue “should keep military planners up at night.”

“They certainly seem to be keeping up the president at night,” Leighton mused. “And when you look at all the different things that are going on in terms of the need for these kinds of munitions, it really shows the need to revamp the defense industrial base. And that, of course, is a is a very serious issue.”