Trump Summons Defense Industry Leaders To Quicken Munitions Production
President Trump is continuing to push to make America’s military much more prepared and ready for any potential conflict than it was during Joe Biden’s hapless term.
Trump recently met with the leaders of the nation’s largest defense contractors as the administration seeks to expand U.S. weapons production amid growing concerns about replenishing military stockpiles following months of operations in the Middle East.
The White House meeting will include senior Pentagon officials and executives from major defense companies to discuss increasing production of advanced munitions, missile systems, and other critical military equipment. According to reports, the discussions will focus on expanding manufacturing capacity and addressing longstanding bottlenecks within the U.S. defense industrial base.
The meeting had originally been scheduled earlier this month but was postponed while the administration focused on negotiations related to the conflict with Iran.
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Trump confirmed the upcoming session during remarks from the Oval Office on Monday.
“We’re building plants all over the country,” Trump said.
He also suggested that American automakers with available manufacturing capacity could help boost defense production.
“Some of the car companies, if they have any excess capacity, they’re making a deal to build missiles and the Patriot in particular,” Trump said.
The comments follow reports that Lockheed Martin has explored partnerships with automotive manufacturers, including General Motors, to accelerate weapons production.
Trump previously met with defense industry leaders in March, after which he announced that major contractors had agreed to significantly increase production of what he described as “exquisite-class” weapons. Executives from Boeing, Northrop Grumman, L3Harris Technologies, Honeywell, BAE Systems, RTX (formerly Raytheon), and Lockheed Martin participated in those discussions.
Although Trump has repeatedly maintained that U.S. weapons inventories remain strong, defense analysts have warned that several key missile systems are being expended faster than they can be replaced. Patriot missile interceptors, THAAD interceptors, and Tomahawk cruise missiles have all been heavily used during recent operations involving Iran and its regional allies.
Defense experts note that replenishing these systems can take months or even years because of complex supply chains and specialized manufacturing requirements.
Earlier this month, Trump invoked the Defense Production Act to accelerate munitions manufacturing. In a memorandum to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the president cited “systemic constraints in the munitions industrial base,” warning that limited production capacity, fragile supply chains, and manufacturing bottlenecks could weaken U.S. national security.
“The issues may impair the ability of the United States to produce, sustain, and expand the availability of munitions, missiles, and equipment required for the national defense,” Trump wrote.
The administration’s manufacturing push comes as Congress prepares to debate defense spending for fiscal year 2027. Trump has proposed a $1.5 trillion national defense budget, including approximately $1.15 trillion in traditional defense funding and another $350 billion through the budget reconciliation process.
The proposal faces significant challenges on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers from both parties have questioned both the overall spending level and the use of reconciliation to fund part of the package.
Pentagon officials have also reportedly told senators that military operations tied to the Iran conflict could require an additional $80 billion in funding. Separately, the Defense Department has requested nearly $53 billion to expand production of 12 critical munitions systems, including Patriot and THAAD interceptors. Much of that funding remains contingent on ongoing budget negotiations.
Hegseth is expected to outline the administration’s defense priorities during a closed-door meeting with House Republicans on Wednesday.
In an opinion article published Tuesday, the defense secretary argued that inadequate military investment poses a growing threat to national security.
“The single greatest threat to America’s national security today is under-investment in military spending,” Hegseth wrote.
Wednesday’s White House meeting is expected to focus on both securing additional funding and identifying ways to rapidly expand production capacity to meet future military requirements.
BREAKING: Dolly Parton’s Cause Of Death Revealed: ‘Brief Battle’
Dolly Parton’s death came after a brief battle with cancer, her representatives revealed Tuesday.
The country music legend died Aug. 25 at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville. She was 80.
Parton had been admitted to the cancer center Friday, four days before her death. Her representatives confirmed the cancer diagnosis in a statement to PEOPLE but did not disclose what type she had.
“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched. Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand,” the statement read.
“Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact. After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” the statement concluded.
The “Jolene” singer had also been dealing with kidney and autoimmune issues before her death, PEOPLE previously reported.
Just days earlier, Dolly Parton opened up about her declining health and acknowledged that she had put off addressing some medical issues while caring for her husband, Carl.
“As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over [my husband] Carl. You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to manage something like this. Back in the early ’80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,” Parton told PEOPLE.
Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death in an Instagram video Tuesday on behalf of the Parton and Owens family.
“My name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next,” he says in the video.
Seaver, who served as Parton’s head of security for more than two decades, said she had asked him years earlier to deliver the announcement.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he continued. “As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.”
Seaver said the moment brought immense pride and heartbreak, but he took comfort in his faith that Parton had been reunited with Carl and other loved ones.
Seaver added: “It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents and countless othe
Shocking 'truth' behind Prince Harry's decision to quit major role
Prince Harry should have "resigned in disgrace" from the board of a controversial African wildlife charity, a commentator says. James Walker makes the bombshell remark in Wednesday's episode of this publication's podcast, Daily Expresso.
He and the show's host, JJ Anisiobi, delve into the Duke of Sussex's dramatic decision to step down from African Parks. James, commenting on the controversy, said: "When you hear about this stuff and how long it's been going on for, you should be resigning in disgrace. [Harry] should be saying: 'I'm not touching that with a barge pole. That is a failed entity. We're going nowhere near it'.
"But no. He's still saying he's going to 'support their mission'. And again this Caroline Pearce, executive director of Survival International, goes on to say: 'His departure doesn't undo that record'.
"She alleged that African Parks was aware of the abuses for years, but it was only after Survival complained to Harry that the charity finally commissioned an investigation."
James added: "Well, she's got a point."
It emerged on Monday (August 24) that Harry was no longer a board member of the wildlife charity.
The conservation organisation has admitted that human rights abuses were committed by its rangers against members of the semi-nomadic Baka group in Congo-Brazzaville.
African Parks has said since that it has improved its safeguarding processes both in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park and institutionally.
Its admission followed an independent human rights investigation into allegations guards managed and paid by the charity had beaten, raped and tortured indigenous people in Odzala-Kokoua National Park.
Harry was president of the charity for six years before he became a member of its board of directors in 2023.
A spokesman for the Duke said he remains an active and avid supporter of African Parks. He added: "The Duke is proud of his 10 years with African Parks and fully supports the ongoing strengthening of its board.
"His commitment to conservation in Africa continues and he remains a supporter of African Parks’ mission."
Human rights organisation, Survival International, said it had been calling on Harry to step down from African Parks for years.
The group's director, Caroline Pearce, said in a statement: "It’s outrageous that for 10 years Prince Harry has served African Parks while the organisation has been responsible for abuse and violence against Indigenous people.
"His departure doesn't undo that record — African Parks itself must now be held accountable, and must abandon this model of fortress conservation for good."
Survival International said indigenous peoples know how best to manage their land and the idea outsiders know better is racist and colonial.
