Image Credit: X account @WhiteHouse
Trump Orders Pentagon to Match Russia and China in Nuclear Tests
In a post on Truth Social, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he has ordered the Pentagon to begin testing America’s nuclear weapons “on an equal basis” with Russia and China. The statement came just ahead of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea.
Nuclear Testing Background
The United States last conducted a full explosive nuclear test on September 23, 1992. Since then, the U.S. has relied on sub-critical experiments and computer simulations rather than underground detonations. Trump’s claim that Russia and China are currently conducting full nuclear tests does not align with publicly available data, which shows that neither country has carried out such detonations since the early 1990s.
Nuclear Stockpile Reality
Trump also asserted that the U.S. holds more nuclear weapons than any other nation. However, current estimates indicate that Russia possesses the largest stockpile with over 5,500 warheads, compared with approximately 5,044 held by the United States.
Russian Claims and U.S. Response
The announcement comes shortly after Russia’s claims of successful trials of the nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile and the Poseidon torpedo. Independent confirmation of these tests remains limited. Following Trump’s post, U.S. lawmakers, including Nevada congresswoman Dina Titus, voiced opposition, promising legislative action to block any return to explosive nuclear testing.
Strategic Concerns
The move raises serious implications for global arms control, U.S. commitments under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, and the stability of nuclear policy worldwide. The debate is expected to intensify as both domestic and international voices respond to Trump’s directive.
