Trump says US will resume nuclear testing after meeting with Xi
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President Donald Trump announced that he had ordered the United States to resume nuclear weapons testing “immediately,” saying he had directed the War Department to match other countries’ programs. He described this step as a necessary step to maintain global parity.
“The United States has more nuclear weapons than any other nation. This was accomplished, including the complete modernization and refurbishment of existing weapons, during my first term in office,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday evening.
Trump said: “Because of the enormous destructive power, I would have hated to do it, but I had no choice! Russia is in second place, China is in third place, but even within 5 years.” “Because of other countries’ testing programs, I have instructed the War Department to begin testing our nuclear weapons on an equal footing. This process will begin immediately.”
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One after a high-level meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Trump said it was in response to recent actions taken by other countries.
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President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet in Anchorage, Alaska. (Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)
“It was about others – it seems they were all nuclear tests. We have more nuclear weapons than anyone else. We don’t test. We stopped them many years ago, but with others testing, I think it’s appropriate that we do that as well,” Trump said.
Trump declined to provide details about where and when the test was conducted when pressed for information.
“It will be announced. As you know, we have testing sites. It will be announced,” he said.
Trump also said he did not believe that resuming US nuclear testing could make the global environment more dangerous.
“I don’t think so. I think we managed to handle it well,” he said. “But we have more than anyone else, and I see them testing. I say, well, they’re testing, we should test too. I’d like to see neutralization removed…because we have so many. Russia’s second and third to China. China will catch up in four or five years. I think de-escalation, or denuclearization, will be massive. We’re already talking to Russia about it, and China will be added to that if we do something.”
This announcement comes days after Trump warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that the United States had a nuclear submarine stationed “right off its shores.” This warning came after recent Russian missile tests.
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A Yars intercontinental ballistic missile was launched as part of Russian nuclear exercises from the launch site in Plesetsk, northwest Russia. (Press Service of the Russian Defense Ministry via AP, file)
Trump made the comments during a conversation with reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday morning, saying the United States was “not playing games” with Putin.
“Russia said this week it tested a new missile that can reach more than 8,000 miles. Is that a rattle to you? What is it?” one reporter asked.
Trump responded: “I know we have a nuclear submarine, the greatest in the world, right off their shores. So, I mean, it doesn’t have to go 8,000 miles, and they’re not playing with us. We’re not playing with them either.”
“We test missiles all the time. But, you know, we have a submarine, a nuclear submarine. We don’t need to go 8,000 miles. And I don’t think it’s appropriate for Putin to say either, by the way. You have to put an end to the war. The war that should have taken one week is now on its way soon.” [to be] Fourth year. “This is what you should do instead of testing missiles.”
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A Russian Iskander-K missile is launched during a military exercise at a training range in Russia. (Press Service of the Russian Ministry of Defense via AP)
Trump later hinted that he might impose additional sanctions on Russia, simply telling reporters: “You’ll find out.”
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced on Sunday that it had successfully tested the nuclear-powered Borevstnik cruise missile, claiming that it was capable of traveling more than 8,000 miles and penetrating defense systems. Putin said that Russia is moving to deploy this weapon.
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Russian General Valery Gerasimov told Putin that the missile traveled 8,700 miles and remained in the air for about 15 hours during its test on October 21.
Fox News Digital’s Anders Hagstrom, Christina Shaw and Reuters contributed to this report.