Furious Hegseth lashes out at journalist over ‘foolish’ question as report shows Army missile crisis

Pete Hegseth lost his patience after a reporter asked a “foolish” question about U.S. munitions supplies amid reports that the stockpiles are rapidly depleting.

The Secretary of Defense paid a visit to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on Monday, attending an ‘Arsenal of Freedom’ event. Hegseth, who faces growing pressure as the war in the Middle East drags on past the six-month mark, hit back at a reporter who questioned the U.S. munitions reserve.

“Why would I answer a question about whether we do or do not have certain types of munitions?” Hegseth quipped at the reporter. “I would never answer that question.”

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“The American press is foolish to want to press an American War Department about where we may or may not be on classified, exquisite systems,” he continued.

Hegseth’s outburst came after the reporter questioned whether the Army had used “virtually all” of its long-range ATACMS and their next-generation replacement, Precision Strike Missiles, during the Iran war.

The long-range missiles enable U.S. troops to hit targets from a safe distance without exposing aircraft and pilots to heavily defended airspace. Such weaponry would be crucial in a confrontation with China.

On Wednesday, the Washington Post reported that the massive munitions expenditure in Iran had raised concerns about America’s readiness for a potential conflict with China.

The outlet reported that as many as three-quarters of the Pentagon’s approximately 90 PrSMs had been depleted.

China’s air defenses are virtually unparalleled. The country possesses more than 3,000 ballistic missiles, according to the Post, far outnumbering those of the U.S.

Hegseth insisted Monday, “We had plenty when we needed it, and we have plenty now, and we have plenty when we’ll need them in the future, absolutely.”

Hegseth has come under frequent scrutiny since taking his post in Trump’s inner circle. His constant purge of Pentagon staff has earned him bipartisan criticism. In April, Hegseth ousted Army General Randy George, amid an ongoing war.

In the latest shakeup, Hegseth is reportedly considering his chief spokesperson, Sean Parnell, to succeed Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, who is allegedly eyeing an exit from the Pentagon in the coming months.

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