U.S. President Donald Trump has called on American military leaders to resume nuclear weapons testing, citing the need to keep pace with other global powers such as Russia and China.
In a post shared on social media just ahead of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, Trump announced that he had instructed the “Department of War” to begin nuclear testing “on an equal basis” with other nations.
“Because of other countries’ testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis,” Trump wrote.
He emphasized that the United States possesses the largest nuclear arsenal in the world, followed by Russia and China, which he described as a “distant third.” The U.S. has not conducted a nuclear weapons test since 1992, following a moratorium introduced by then-President George H.W. Bush at the end of the Cold War.
A Shift from Decades of U.S. Nuclear Policy
Trump’s remarks mark a major departure from long-standing American policy, as the U.S. has relied on advanced computer simulations and subcritical tests to maintain its nuclear stockpile without live detonations for over three decades.
The statement comes just days after Trump criticized Russia for testing a nuclear-powered missile reportedly capable of unlimited range. He acknowledged the “tremendous destructive power” of nuclear weapons but said he had “no choice” but to modernize and expand the U.S. arsenal during his first term in office.
“China’s nuclear program will be even within five years,” Trump added, warning that the U.S. must not fall behind its global rivals.
Although Trump did not specify when or where the testing would take place, he stated that the “process will begin immediately.”
Historical Context
The last U.S. nuclear weapons test occurred on September 23, 1992, under the project code-named Divider, at the Nevada Test Site an underground facility located 65 miles (105 km) north of Las Vegas. According to the Los Alamos National Laboratory, it was the 1,054th nuclear test conducted by the U.S.
The Nevada site remains under federal control and could be reactivated if deemed necessary. The National Museum of Nuclear Science and History, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, has noted that the site could still be used for future nuclear testing if authorized by the government.
Timing and Diplomacy
Trump’s post was published as he was aboard Marine One, en route to meet President Xi Jinping at Gimhae International Airport their first in-person meeting since 2019.
The timing of the announcement has drawn global attention, as it coincides with renewed tensions surrounding nuclear modernization programs in Russia, China, and North Korea, raising questions about the potential implications of a U.S. return to nuclear testing.
