Overview
- Vice President J.D. Vance, who spoke Wednesday on Fox News, rejected an Atlantic report then said it is his job to worry about readiness and missile supply.
- The Atlantic had reported, citing two senior administration officials, that Vance questioned Pentagon portrayals of the Iran campaign and possible drastic drawdowns.
- Vance attacked the magazine’s anonymous sourcing and still praised Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Caine for their handling of the war.
- The White House has pushed back on depletion concerns, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt saying stockpiles are more than sufficient and President Trump calling key reserves virtually unlimited.
- Independent analyses cited by the New York Times say the U.S. has fired at least 1,110 stealth cruise missiles and over 1,000 Tomahawks, prompting moves of munitions from Asia and Europe, while Hegseth faced tough House questioning Wednesday with Senate testimony set for Thursday.