60 Minutes · Trump downplays concerns about defense stockpiles

1. 1. President Trump downplays concerns about dwindling defense stockpiles despite internal administration warnings.
2. 2. Bradley Bowman states that American military readiness has eroded due to a munitions crisis caused by years of insufficient defense budgets.
3. 3. The U.S. fired 1,000 Tomahawk cruise missiles in the conflict with Iran by April, but only bought 38 in fiscal year 2025.
4. 4. The U.S. fired 1,100 JASM extended-range air-launched munitions, yet only about 1,500 remain in stock.
5. 5. During the 12-day war with Iran, the U.S. used one quarter of its THAAD interceptors, but only bought 11 in FY24 and 12 in FY25.
6. 6. Defense spending as a percentage of GDP is near post-World War II lows, contradicting claims of excessive spending.
7. 7. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Dan Caine warned that China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are pursuing unprecedented levels of cooperation.
8. 8. Adversaries' perception of U.S. military capability and willingness to use it is key to deterrence; insufficient munitions invite aggression.