Overview
- The administration has not clarified whether the order refers to explosive detonations or additional trials of delivery systems, with the Pentagon deferring questions to the White House and the Energy Department silent.
- Russia denied conducting nuclear explosive tests and warned it would respond if the U.S. abandons the moratorium, while the United Nations voiced concern that nuclear testing is never permissible.
- At his Senate confirmation hearing to lead U.S. Strategic Command, Vice Adm. Richard Correll said he lacked insight into the president’s intent, as Vice President JD Vance cast testing as ensuring arsenal functionality and lawmakers warned of destabilization.
- Experts noted factual errors in the president’s post regarding stockpile sizes and agency roles, and emphasized that any underground detonation would likely require 24–36 months of preparation with limited technical payoff.
- Iran condemned the move as regressive, China urged Washington to honor the test‑ban norm, and analysts stressed that recent Russian and Chinese demonstrations were not nuclear explosive tests.