Donald Trump's Claims on Nuclear Treaties and Military
Former President Donald Trump made several public statements regarding his administration's accomplishments in nuclear policy and military rebuilding. These statements have been subject to analysis.
New START Treaty
Former President Donald Trump affirmed his decision not to extend New START, the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty between the United States and Russia.
Trump characterized the treaty as a "badly negotiated deal" and stated it was being "grossly violated."
He further suggested that nuclear experts should develop a "new, improved, and modernized Treaty that can last long into the future."
Contextually, the New START treaty, signed in 2011, included provisions for significant nuclear arms reductions and on-site inspections. Russian President Vladimir Putin had proposed a one-year extension of the accord.
However, President Joe Biden and President Putin subsequently signed a five-year extension of New START in 2021.
Military Rebuilding Assertions
In a social media post, Donald Trump stated he "completely rebuilt [our] Military in my First Term, including new and many refurbished nuclear weapons."
He also claimed to "continue to rebuild our Military at levels never seen before."
Information indicates that President Barack Obama had previously approved the development of new nuclear weapons systems for the strategic Triad (land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and bombers), along with new warheads and cruise missiles.
During Trump's first term, no new nuclear weapons were added, nor were Obama's initiatives accelerated. The first flight of the new B-21 bomber, for instance, occurred during the Biden presidency.
Regarding overall military spending, the Pentagon's expenditures remain significant. However, the rate of building ships, planes, and missiles is not stated as exceeding rearmament levels seen during periods such as World War II or the presidencies of John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan.
Trump further claimed:
"We are even adding Battleships, which are 100 times more powerful than the ones that roamed the Seas during World War II."
This concept has not received support from naval officials.
Claims of Preventing Nuclear Wars
Trump additionally stated he had "stopped Nuclear Wars from breaking out across the World between Pakistan and India, Iran and Israel, and Russia and Ukraine."
The latest round of skirmishes between India and Pakistan did not escalate to the point of nuclear exchange. Furthermore, Iran is not reported to possess nuclear weapons, which would be a prerequisite for a nuclear war with Israel.
Regarding Russia and Ukraine, a perspective offered is that Trump's halting of weapons deliveries to Ukraine might have influenced Russia's actions, potentially averting a nuclear scenario. However, this remains a debatable interpretation.
Treaty Negotiation Approaches
Trump's call for a "better" New START treaty has been compared to his earlier stance on the Iran nuclear deal. He withdrew from the Iran deal without negotiating an improved version.
Reports from Axios indicated that the U.S. and Russia were nearing a deal to extend New START. Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff reportedly proposed the idea to Russian diplomats at the time. However, Trump reportedly declined this proposal.
Renaming Public Works
Recent reports indicate that during discussions with Senator Chuck Schumer, Trump suggested he would restore $16 billion for the Gateway Tunnel project, which connects New York and New Jersey, if Penn Station and Dulles Airport were renamed after him. Senator Schumer reportedly rejected this suggestion.
Historically, presidential commemorations, such as airport or landmark renamings, are typically established after an individual has left public life, often posthumously.