Trump says U.S. is 'making more patriots than we've ever made' and praises emerging laser tech

Asked about weapons production, President Donald Trump said U.S. factories are ramping up output of Patriots and other systems and described production as a "very big plan" rather than merely overtime: "Right now, we're making more patriots than we've ever made." He added that lasers are becoming viable for some missiles and predicted they will eventually achieve needed ranges while being far cheaper to operate.

Reporters asked for further technical detail on the lasers and "gatling guns" mentioned in a speech; the president offered general predictions about cost and accuracy but did not provide procurement schedules, technical specifications, or timelines for fielding these systems.