President Donald Trump sent shockwaves through the international community on Wednesday, announcing that he had instructed the Defense Department to “immediately” start testing nuclear weapons.
“Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis,” Trump said on Truth Social shortly before his highly anticipated meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea. “That process will begin immediately.”
The United States has voluntarily refrained from nuclear explosive testing since 1992, though the capability remains at the Nevada National Security Site. Trump’s announcement signals a sharp departure from decades of restraint.
During his first term, Trump sought a nearly tenfold increase in the U.S. nuclear arsenal, NBC News reported at the time, a move that critics argued risked destabilizing global security.
The timing of Trump’s statement is significant. On the same day, Russia announced a test of a new long-range nuclear-powered underwater weapon and recently tested a nuclear-capable missile. Trump framed his decision as a measure of strategic parity.
“Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years,” he said in his social media post.
Reporters pressed Trump on whether he intended to change U.S. nuclear testing policy, but he offered no answer.
The announcement comes amid Trump’s Asia trip, during which he has repeatedly argued that displaying American strength—through tariffs and military power—is a pathway to peace. The new nuclear testing directive underscores that philosophy, signaling a willingness to confront rivals head-on while projecting unflinching U.S. military might.
The world now faces the reality of a U.S. president actively preparing to revive nuclear tests, raising questions about global arms control, stability, and the potential risks of a new nuclear era.
