President Donald Trump has sparked global alarm after threatening on social media to resume U.S. nuclear weapons testing for the first time in 33 years.
The post appeared just minutes before his scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, whose country is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal. Trump stated that, “due to other nations’ testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to begin testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis,” suggesting either renewed trials or a display of U.S. nuclear capabilities.
His remarks come amid heightened tensions following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of successful tests of a nuclear-powered cruise missile and an underwater torpedo, both capable of striking distant targets.
While China has not conducted a nuclear test since 1996, Trump’s comments mark a provocative escalation in global nuclear rivalry and uncertainty in international arms control efforts.
