Trump suggests the U.S. will resume testing nuclear weapons

""Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis," he said in a post on Truth Social. "That process will begin immediately." The White House did not immediately respond to questions seeking more details. Trump ignored a question from a reporter about his post as he sat face-to-face with Xi in Busan, a meeting that focused on trade issues between the two countries."

"When he spoke to reporters later, Trump appeared to be conflating the testing of missiles that deliver a nuclear warhead with the testing of the warheads. Other countries, he said, "seem to all be nuclear testing" but when it comes to the U.S., "We have more nuclear weapons than anybody. We don't do testing." "I see them testing and I say, well, if they're going to test, I guess we have to test," Trump said as he continued speaking to reporters."

The U.S. indicated intent to resume nuclear weapons testing for the first time since 1992, stating it would be on an "equal basis" with Russia and China and that the process would begin immediately. There was no clear indication that warhead detonations would occur, and details on scope, timing, and locations remained unspecified. The U.S. military already conducts regular tests of missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads, but warhead detonations ceased after a test ban in 1992. The announcement referenced other countries' testing programs, appeared shortly before a U.S.-China meeting in South Korea, and drew limited official clarification.

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