Overview
- In a Truth Social post, President Trump said he instructed the "Department of War" to begin testing U.S. nuclear weapons immediately, citing recent Russian weapons trials as justification.
- The United States has not conducted an explosive nuclear test since 1992, and the Arms Control Association estimates a restart of underground detonations would likely require roughly three years.
- Nagasaki’s mayor, Hiroshima survivor groups, and ICAN condemned the order, Iran called the U.S. a "nuclear-armed bully," and China’s foreign minister urged adherence to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty commitments.
- U.S. critics warned of potential treaty breaches, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries calling the move a violation of international law, while questions mounted over the Pentagon’s role given the Energy Department oversees warhead testing.
- Cost and process concerns added to the pushback, with one nuclear test estimated at about $140 million and no verified indication that any U.S. explosive test has occurred.