Donald Trump
Donald Trump faces claims over a planned 40,000-bomb Israel shipment as Tucker Carlson links the weapons to a possible post-midterm Iran escalation The White House

Donald Trump is facing fresh questions over a massive weapons shipment to Israel after reports revealed plans for 40,000 2,000-pound bombs, with Tucker Carlson claiming the arsenal could be tied to a wider military strategy involving Iran after November's US midterm elections.

The reported package, worth $2.8 billion (£2.10 billion), has been independently reported by The Washington Post, while Axios has revealed that senior US, Israeli and Arab military commanders recently held a secret meeting in Germany to discuss the war with Iran and wider regional tensions.

40,000 Bombs in the Reported Shipment

The proposed transfer contains 40,000 heavy bombs, comprising 20,000 MK-84 general-purpose bombs and 20,000 BLU-117s, according to reports. Each weapon weighs 2,000 pounds, or roughly 907kg. The package also includes 20,000 I-2000 Penetrator warheads designed for hardened and underground targets.

The overall package is estimated at $2.8 billion (£2.10 billion) at a 23 September exchange rate of roughly $1 to £0.751.

The scale of the shipment has drawn particular attention because 40,000 bombs at 2,000 pounds each represent about 40,000 tons of explosive ordnance. Carlson highlighted the figure in a 15 September post, writing, 'According to an informed federal official, in the coming months the Trump administration plans to send a total of 40,000 Mark 84 and Blu-117 bombs to the government of Israel.'

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Carlson Links Weapons to Iran

Carlson has gone further than the confirmed details of the arms package, arguing that the shipment could form part of a broader strategy around Iran.

In the material cited in the report, Carlson claimed the bombs were being held for use after the November midterm elections and suggested they could support an escalation against Iran. However, the available reporting does not independently establish that the 40,000 bombs are specifically earmarked for a post-election Iran strike.

That distinction matters. The weapons package itself has been reported by major outlets, but its intended operational use and timing remain separate questions.

The Trump administration has continued to describe Iran as a major security concern. In a 22 September United Nations address, Trump said he would not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon and pointed to US military strength as part of his approach to regional threats.

Secret Iran Meeting Adds to Tensions

The bomb shipment comes as Axios reports that senior military commanders from the US, Israel and eight Arab countries secretly met in Germany last week.

The meeting was organised by US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper and included military chiefs from Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and Egypt. None of the participating governments publicly announced the gathering.

According to Axios, the talks focused on the ongoing conflict with Iran and growing regional tensions. The meeting provides separate evidence of high-level military coordination in the region, although it does not establish that the discussions were directly connected to the 40,000-bomb package.

The proposed transfer is also notable because it follows earlier US arms approvals for Israel. In February 2025, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced a possible $2.04 billion (£1.53 billion), involving more than 35,500 MK-84 or BLU-117 bomb bodies and 4,000 I-2000 Penetrator warheads, with deliveries estimated to begin in 2026.

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