President Donald Trump said that he has ordered the Department of Defense to begin testing nuclear weapons “immediately.”
With his statement signaling a drastic reversal of United States’ defense policy and capturing worldwide headlines mere hours before his high-stakes meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea.
In a posting from South Korea, Trump wrote on social media that the United States has “more nuclear weapons than any other country.” He said Russia is second, and China is “a distant third” but could achieve nuclear parity in five years. He called the resumption of testing a response to what he called “advanced weapons testing by rival nations.”
“I have ordered the Department of War to begin testing our nuclear weapons on an equal footing, and that process will commence immediately,” Trump wrote. The announcement came as a surprise to officials and analysts alike, since the United States has not conducted a full-scale nuclear test since 1992.
The announcement came just before Trump’s bilateral meeting with Xi Jinping at the Busan airport, a key part of his Asia trip. Reporters shouted out questions about the sudden shift in U.S. nuclear policy as Trump entered into the meeting room, but the president did not respond. He thanked the press and moved into the talks, leaving many unanswered questions about what kind of nuclear testing he is authorizing—whether it involves delivery systems such as missiles, or the actual detonation of nuclear warheads.
So far, White House officials have not explained what Trump’s order entails, NBC News correspondent Gabe Gutierrez said. “We’re trying to find out exactly what that means,” Gutierrez said. “Whether he’s referring to testing components or resuming underground nuclear tests, which would be a major reversal of long-standing U.S. policy.”
The president’s decision could have wide-ranging implications for global security and arms control agreements. Since the end of the Cold War, the U.S. has relied on computer simulations and non-explosive tests to maintain its nuclear arsenal. A return to physical testing could undermine the international moratorium on nuclear detonations and strain relations with allies who support the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, which the U.S. has signed but never ratified.
Trump also announced that the U.S. would allow South Korea to build a nuclear-powered submarine, with much of the construction to be done in shipyards in Philadelphia. The deal deepens military cooperation between Washington and Seoul but risks increasing tensions with North Korea and China.
The timing of the announcement—just before Trump’s meeting with Xi—added another layer of complexity to already delicate U.S.-China relations. The two leaders had gathered to discuss trade, security, and global stability. Trump called Xi a “good friend” during brief opening remarks but declined to take reporters’ questions about the nuclear issue.
One may say, according to observers, this meeting was markedly toned down from previous Trump meetings, such as the Alaska summit where he had a historic meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The setting in Busan was described as “bare-bones,” sans the grand ceremony characteristic of major diplomatic engagements.
Analysts differ in assessing Trump’s motives. His supporters say that his announcement is a demonstration of strength and deterrence against China and Russia as they advance their nuclear weapons programs. Critics have termed the decision by Trump as dangerous, warning that it could open the door to a new arms race and further erode international norms that have prevented nuclear escalation for decades. With so many details still not known, world leaders will be waiting with bated breath to see how the Pentagon interprets Trump’s directive. Military experts caution that preparation even for a limited test would take several months, possibly longer, and likely would attract sharp condemnation from allies and adversaries alike. Trump’s nuclear threat had overshadowed the economic agenda of his Asian journey, which was dominated by trade negotiations and regional partnerships. Yet the president insisted that the United States had no choice but to push ahead to stay ahead of its competitors. “The United States will always lead in defense and technology,” Trump said in a brief comment before his meeting began. “We are ensuring peace through strength.” For now, the world waits to see whether Trump’s order will translate into actual nuclear detonations or remain a symbolic warning to other powers. Either way, his words have already reignited a global debate over the future of nuclear arms control and the fragile balance of power that has held since the last American test more than three decades ago.