Experts say Trump’s direction for the U.S. to resume nuclear testing is dangerous to populations and would open a door for adversaries to sharpen their weapons.
President Donald Trump raised questions Wednesday night about a decades-old U.S. prohibition on testing its nuclear weapons by detonating them, a prospect which experts say is dangerous to populations and would open a door for adversaries to test and sharpen their most powerful weapons.
Minutes before a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump posted on his social media platform that he „instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis.“
„That process will begin immediately“, the president added.
Interpreting the president on social media
The White House would not clarify whether Trump referred to explosive testing of nuclear weapons — which only North Korea has undertaken in the 21st century — or to the testing of platforms that could deliver a nuclear weapon, which is routine.
Vice President JD Vance, asked Thursday about what Trump meant, said the president’s social media post „speaks for itself.“
“We have a big arsenal . Sometimes you’ve got to test it to make sure that it’s functioning and working properly“, Vance said.
Vice Adm. Richard Correll, in his confirmation hearing Thursday to be commander of U.S. Strategic Command that oversees the combat deployment of nuclear weapons, emphasized the president’s reference to testing on an „equal basis.“
„I wouldn’t presume the president’s words meant nuclear testing“, Correll said, pointing to the president’s reference to testing on an „equal basis.“
„Neither China nor Russia has conducted a nuclear explosive test.
