Trump urges defense firms to boost production at PA summit

President Donald Trump called on defense industry leaders to accelerate weapons production and expand U.S. manufacturing capacity during a summit in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. The event highlighted ongoing strains on American military stockpiles from conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Speaking at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Trump addressed the Defense and Innovation Summit hosted by Republican Senator Dave McCormick. The gathering included senior military officials, defense contractors, investors, and technology executives. Trump urged arms manufacturers to increase their speed, stating the U.S. has the best quality but needs faster production. He said the summit would generate around $10 billion in pledged investments from domestic defense and technology companies.

The president's appearance underscored a broader administration focus on revitalizing the defense industrial base. Prolonged conflicts have consumed large quantities of missiles, interceptors, and other munitions, exposing bottlenecks in supply chains and production limits. Earlier in the week, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Dan Caine had implored industry leaders to innovate...