President Trump Orders Immediate Resumption of U.S. Nuclear Weapons Testing

President Donald Trump has instructed the Pentagon to immediately resume nuclear weapons testing, ending a 33-year moratorium. The announcement was made via Truth Social just before a scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea. Trump stated the directive was in response to nuclear programs of countries like Russia and China, aiming to test on an "equal basis."

The decision follows China's rapid nuclear expansion, having doubled its arsenal to about 600 weapons since 2020, and Russia's recent tests of nuclear missile and torpedo systems. Critics have condemned the move. Representative Dina Titus vowed to introduce legislation to block testing, and Daryl Kimball of the Arms Control Association warned of global repercussions, suggesting it could unravel arms control treaties and provoke reciprocal testing by adversaries.

The United States last conducted a nuclear test in 1992. Since then, most nuclear powers—excluding North Korea—have ceased testing. Trump's action reopens the debate on nuclear deterrence, arms control, and international security.