The United States, Russia and China have agreed not to conduct explosive nuclear weapons tests since the '90s. Missile tests, on the other hand, are already routinely conducted by the U.S. military. There is no scientific, technical or strategic justification for resuming explosive testing. The United States currently conducts extensive subcritical nuclear tests and high-fidelity simulations through the Stockpile Stewardship Program, which provide a deep understanding of our nuclear capabilities.
The US president appeared on the news show for the first time since 2020, when he walked out during an interview. US President Donald Trump has appeared on the CBS News programme 60 Minutes just months after he won a $16m settlement from the broadcaster for alleged deceptive editing. In the interview with CBS host Norah O'Donnell, which was filmed last Friday at his Mar-a-Lago residence and aired on Sunday, Trump touched on several topics,
"I think the tests we're talking about right now are system tests," Wright said in an interview on Fox News' "Sunday Briefing." "These are not nuclear explosions. These are what we call noncritical explosions." Wright, whose agency is responsible for testing, added that the planned testing involves "all the other parts of a nuclear weapon to make sure they deliver the appropriate geometry and they set up the nuclear explosion."
The United States has more Nuclear Weapons than any other country. This was accomplished, including a complete update and renovation of existing weapons, during my First Term in office. Because of the tremendous destructive power, I HATED to do it, but had no choice! Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years. Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis.
Then Trump got to the red meat: "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." State of play: The administration has offered no additional details about what, precisely, the president meant. The U.S. hasn't conducted a nuclear test in decades.
More has come out on President Donald Trump's plans for nuclear testing, from top officials and from Trump himself, but it's still unclear exactly what's coming. Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Wednesday that he had instructed the Department of Defense to start the process of " testing our Nuclear Weapons" immediately, identifying it as a response to testing by other countries.
Well, we would work with the Department of Energy, Hegseth said. But the president has been clear; we need to have a credible nuclear deterrent. That is the baseline. And so, having understanding and resuming testing is a pretty responsible very responsible way to do that. I think it makes nuclear conflict less likely if you know what you have and make sure it operates properly.
"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.
