Trump Orders Immediate Nuclear Weapons Testing

On Oct. 30 President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he had ordered the "Department of War" to begin nuclear weapons testing "immediately," without specifying what kinds of tests would be conducted. The United States last detonated a nuclear device in 1992; the Congressional Research Service estimates the U.S. could regain live-testing capability within about 24–36 months, though independent experts say restarting full-scale physical testing would take years, cost millions and is largely unnecessary. Administration officials including Vice President J.D. Vance defended testing as necessary to ensure the arsenal's reliability, and Sen. Tom Cotton suggested any tests would likely be small, controlled and underground. The announcement drew sharp international condemnation from hibakusha survivor groups and Japanese officials as a setback for nonproliferation, and Moscow warned it would respond in kind. Commentators and analysts described the order as dangerous and performative and warned it could accelerate a renewed arms race.