Overview
- Trump announced on Truth Social that he directed the Defense Department to begin nuclear-weapon testing "on equal basis," without specifying what types of tests or systems would be involved.
- The declaration came minutes before his meeting with China’s Xi Jinping in Busan, a timing framed by recent Russian weapons trials and intended as a strategic signal.
- After the meeting, Trump and Xi touted narrow trade steps: China will suspend some rare-earth export controls for one year and resume large U.S. soybean purchases, while the U.S. trims Fentanyl-related tariffs to 47%.
- Immediate pushback surfaced in Congress, with Nevada Democrat Dina Titus vowing legislation to block testing, as analysts warned of erosion of non-proliferation norms with New START set to lapse in February 2026.
- Regional tensions also flared as North Korea reported sea-to-sea cruise-missile tests ahead of Trump’s trip, adding to a spate of military demonstrations cited in the U.S. justification.