(Headline USA) President Joe Biden mistakenly let slip during an interview Sunday that the U.S. military’s artillery ammo supplies are running low due to ongoing Ukraine aid, RealClear Politics reported.
During an interview with CNN, Biden defended his administration’s controversial decision to send cluster munitions to Ukraine.
He said the weapons were part of a “transition period” in the U.S.’s aid to Ukraine while it waits for more munitions to be produced.
“This is a war relating to munitions. And they’re running out of that ammunition, and we’re low on it,” Biden admitted. “And so, what I finally did, I took the recommendation of the Defense Department to—not permanently—but to allow for this transition period while we get more 155 weapons, these shells, for the Ukrainians.”
Critics blasted Biden for revealing crucial information about the state of our military readiness.
“Joe Biden broadcasting to the world that the US is low on 155mm shells,” conservative communicator Steve Guest tweeted. “Moron. Does Biden not care that our adversaries in China are listening?”
Joe Biden broadcasting to the world that the US is low on 155mm shells.
Moron. Does Biden not care that our adversaries in China are listening? https://t.co/X8M9k617CU
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) July 8, 2023
The Washington Examiner’s Byron York pointed out that Biden finally revealed the extent to which ongoing aid to Ukraine is affecting our own military.
“In CNN interview, President Biden is not particularly clear but seems to be saying US is sending cluster munitions to Ukraine because we are running out of 155mm artillery ammunition to send them,” he tweeted. “Seems obvious this is affecting US readiness to defend itself.”
In CNN interview, President Biden is not particularly clear but seems to be saying US is sending cluster munitions to Ukraine because we are running out of 155mm artillery ammunition to send them. Seems obvious this is affecting US readiness to defend itself. pic.twitter.com/ofKyZQUx2X
— Byron York (@ByronYork) July 9, 2023
However, a White House official attempted to walk back Biden’s comments on Monday, claiming the only military aid America was sending to Ukraine was “in excess” of what the U.S. military needs.
“The military has specific requirements for the numbers of weapons systems and ammunition we maintain in our reserves in case of contingencies or military conflict,” the official claimed. “Everything we send to Ukraine is in excess of that. So, the U.S. is not running out of ammunition ourselves.”
Despite Biden’s alarming statement, many were more fixated on a different takeaway from Sunday’s sit-down: the obseqiously fawning commentary from interviewer Fareed Zakaria, who opined that Biden has been a “great president.”
CNN's Fareed Zakaria to Biden: "I think a lot of people do watch you and are impressed and they think you've been a great president. You've brought the economy back, you've restored relations with the world…" pic.twitter.com/6ZjHnOhDJW
— Kevin Tober (@KevinTober94) July 9, 2023
The interview follows a recent town hall event with former President Donald Trump, during which moderator Kaitlan Collins was needlessly combatitive and disrespectful, drawing a rebuke from Trump that she was a “nasty person.”
Trump nonetheless dominated the exchange, leading many of CNN’s veteran on-air “talents” to revolt and demand the head of then-CEO Chris Licht, who was fired shortly thereafter.
The network has continued to struggle in its efforts to find a niche in the media marketplace after effectively destroying its credibility with over-sensationalized—and ultimately false—coverage during the Trump presidency.
