U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces pushback during a CBS News interview with Margaret Brennan after she questions the state of U.S. missile and munitions stockpiles. Brennan cites concerns reported in the context of Ukraine’s war needs, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s request for not only additional interceptors but also the ability for friendly governments to produce Patriot missiles domestically. Brennan asks Hegseth whether the Pentagon would support such co-production. Hegseth responds that the United States makes “better and more munitions” than any other country and says the administration is accelerating production, describing efforts to build “more” and “faster.” He rejects the idea of a current shortfall, calling it a “manufactured story” advanced by media.
Brennan then confronts Hegseth with his prior sworn testimony to Congress, saying he testified that rebuilding stockpiles would take years. Hegseth says his earlier statement involved speculation that some munitions take longer than others, and he argues the U.S. is replenishing what was provided to Ukraine. When pressed on whether the answer to Zelensky’s production request is “yes” or “no,” Hegseth avoids a direct reply, saying Ukraine buys munitions funded by Europe. The interview centers on whether publicly stated readiness claims align with earlier congressional testimony and reporting about depleted inventories.
