Defense industry leaders have been preparing to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House later this week in what is expected to be a contentious discussion as concerns grow over the U.S. supply of missiles, according to two people familiar with details of the meeting.
The leaders of roughly seven defense companies are expected to be pressed by the president to find ways to swiftly increase their production of weaponry for the Pentagon, according to these people and one other person familiar with the upcoming meeting. Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg is also expected to attend, two of the people said.
The president has expressed anger to aides and allies over thinning American stockpiles, the people said. Trump is considering whether to restart major combat operations in Iran, which downed a U.S. Army helicopter Tuesday. The crew was rescued and the U.S. launched new attacks in Iran in response.
“We’re going to be attacking them, attacking them very hard,” Trump said Wednesday from the Oval Office. “We hit them hard yesterday, and we’re going to hit them again hard today.”
A White House official said there was no meeting with leaders of defense companies on the president’s schedule “at this time.” It’s also possible it could be rescheduled or canceled.
