Overview
- In a Truth Social post, the president directed the newly renamed War Department to resume nuclear-weapon testing immediately, without specifying what types of tests will occur.
- Trump said South Korea is authorized to build a nuclear-powered submarine at Philly Shipyard, as Seoul seeks reactor fuel and further talks proceed on the politically sensitive transfer of propulsion technology.
- After a 1 hour 40 minute meeting in Busan, Trump reported a one-year understanding on rare earths with Xi Jinping and announced a cut in Fentanyl-related tariffs on Chinese goods to 10%, adding that China will buy large volumes of U.S. soybeans.
- Initial backlash surfaced on Capitol Hill, with Nevada Representative Dina Titus saying she will introduce legislation to stop a U.S. nuclear testing restart.
- Trump cited foreign programs as justification following Russia’s recent demonstrations of advanced systems and North Korea’s cruise-missile launches near the Yellow Sea; the U.S. last conducted a nuclear test in 1992 and the New START framework lapses in February 2026.