Announcement on Social Media

In a recent post on Truth Social, Trump stated, “Because of other countries’ testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately.” This comment comes just hours before his scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, aimed at negotiating a truce in the ongoing trade war. This meeting marks the first direct engagement between the two leaders since 2019.

Context of U.S. Nuclear Policy

The last full U.S. nuclear weapons test occurred in 1992, a period during which neither China nor Russia has conducted such tests. Trump’s reference to “on an equal basis” raises questions about the nature of the nuclear testing he plans to initiate, especially in light of Russia’s recent weapons demonstrations.

Russia’s Nuclear Advancements

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently announced the successful test of the “unique” nuclear-propelled Burevestnik cruise missile, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. This test is framed as essential for national security, but Trump later labeled Putin’s announcement as “not appropriate.” Furthermore, Sergei Ryabkov, a senior aide to Putin, revealed that Russia had informed the U.S. in advance regarding the missile test.

The timing of Russia’s military demonstrations is particularly significant, occurring amidst heightened nuclear posturing and stalled U.S.-Russia discussions concerning the war in Ukraine. Recently, announcements about a Poseidon super torpedo capable of devastating coastal regions also surfaced, showcasing Russia’s advancing military technology.

Miscalculations on U.S. Nuclear Capabilities

In his social media remarks, Trump inaccurately claimed that the U.S. has more nuclear weapons than any other country. In reality, Russia holds the highest confirmed number of nuclear warheads at over 5,500, while the U.S. has approximately 5,044, according to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.

Since 1998, no country other than North Korea has conducted a full nuclear test, although several nuclear-armed nations, including the U.S., have successfully executed simulated explosions using advanced computational models and tested missile capabilities and warhead mechanisms to retain the reliability of their arsenals.

Legislative Response and Future Implications

The last full nuclear test by the U.S. was conducted on September 23, 1992, at what is now the Nevada National Security Site. Then-President George H.W. Bush announced a moratorium on nuclear testing later that year, although the U.S. retains the option to resume tests if necessitated.

In response to Trump’s announcement, Nevada Congresswoman Dina Titus expressed strong opposition, stating, “Absolutely not. I’ll be introducing legislation to put a stop to this.” Despite ongoing public dialogue and commitments from both Moscow and Washington to avert an arms race, little tangible progress has been made.

The Legacy of Trump’s Nuclear Strategy

During his first term, Trump reportedly sought to significantly increase the U.S. nuclear arsenal by tenfold. In December 2016, he tweeted, “The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes.” This rhetoric continues to shape public opinion and inform discussions on election reform and government policy regarding nuclear arms.