Trump orders US to resume nuclear testing, citing rivals

President Donald Trump said he has instructed the US Department of Defense to restart nuclear weapons testing, arguing Washington must act on an "equal basis" with other nuclear powers. The directive, delivered ahead of Trump’s meeting with China’s Xi Jinping, follows a series of high-profile demonstrations by Russia, including claims of a successful test of the Poseidon nuclear-powered torpedo and other strategic systems.

The United States has not conducted a full-scale nuclear test since 1992, relying instead on simulations and subcritical experiments to certify its stockpile. Trump cast renewed testing as both a technical and strategic signal, asserting it would demonstrate American resolve to Moscow and Beijing.

Analysts note such a move would carry significant geopolitical ramifications, potentially undermining long-standing global testing norms and arms-control efforts. The White House message framed the decision as necessary to assess weapon reliability and deter adversaries, while critics warned it could spur a dangerous spiral of nuclear one-upmanship.