GYEONGJU, South Korea — President Donald Trump said Wednesday he had instructed the Defense Department to “immediately” resume 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 halted nuclear explosive testing since 1992. However, it has the ability to resume tests at the Nevada National Security Site.
During his first term, Trump sought a nearly tenfold increase in the U.S. nuclear arsenal, NBC News reported at the time.
Russia announced a test of a new long-range nuclear powered underwater weapon Wednesday and recently tested a nuclear capable missile.
Trump, who has lately sharpened his rhetoric on U.S. military capabilities, said the decision was about reaching parity with Moscow and Beijing.
“Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years,” he said in his social media post.
He offered no answer when reporters asked about changing his nuclear testing plans.
During his trip to Asia, Trump has argued that showcasing American strength is a pathway to peace, using tariffs as leverage and showcasing U.S. military might.
