President Donald Trump has instructed the Department of War to resume US nuclear weapons testing, which would mark the first such tests in over 30 years. The directive was announced on social media, with Trump citing testing programs by other countries, including Russia and China, as the reason. The last US nuclear weapons test occurred in 1992, followed by a moratorium issued by former President George H.W. Bush. Trump's announcement came just before his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea.
Presidential Directive
On social media, President Trump stated he had instructed the Department of War to begin testing US nuclear weapons "on an equal basis," citing testing programs by other nations. He acknowledged the "tremendous destructive power" of nuclear weapons but asserted he had "no choice" but to update and renovate the US arsenal during his first term. The post indicated that the "process will begin immediately," though no specific details on how the tests would occur were provided.
Context of Global Nuclear Programs
Trump's directive follows his denouncement of Russia for testing a nuclear-powered missile, which reportedly possesses an unlimited range. He asserted that the United States holds more nuclear weapons than any other country, with Russia ranked second and China a "distant third." Trump also predicted that China's nuclear program "will be even within 5 years."
Historical US Testing Policy
The United States has not conducted nuclear weapons testing since September 23, 1992. That test, code-named Divider, was the 1,054th conducted by the US and took place at an underground facility in Nevada. The moratorium on testing was issued by President George H.W. Bush as the Cold War concluded. The Nevada Test Site, located 65 miles (105km) north of Las Vegas, remains operational under US government control. The National Museum of Nuclear Science and History, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, states that the site could be authorized for nuclear weapons testing again if deemed necessary.
Announcement Timing
Trump's announcement was made on Wednesday night, occurring just days after his comments regarding Russia's missile testing. The social media post was published as he was aboard Marine One, en route to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at Gimhae International Airport in South Korea. This marked the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since 2019.