Trump Announces Resumption of Nuclear Testing

President Trump announced on Truth Social that he had directed the U.S. to resume nuclear-weapons testing “on an equal basis” with Russia and China, making the post just before his meeting with Xi Jinping in South Korea. The White House provided few details, and senior officials — including Vice Adm. Richard Correll at his Senate confirmation hearing — said they had no insight into the president’s intent, leaving lawmakers and experts uncertain about whether he meant explosive warhead detonations, missile/reactor tests, or other activities. Analysts called the post error-filled and ambiguous because it referenced a “Department of War” rather than the Energy Department, which runs U.S. test sites; resuming tests would break the U.S. voluntary moratorium observed since 1992 and could rekindle an arms-race dynamic. The Kremlin said Russia would follow suit if testing resumed. Reporting noted the Nevada National Security Site as the principal U.S. facility for detonations and recalled lesser-known past locations such as Mississippi’s Tatum Salt Dome, underscoring logistical and local consequences. With little official clarification, national-security commentators and officials remain divided over whether resuming tests would strengthen deterrence or dangerously escalate nuclear brinksmanship.