Trump sparks global concern with surprise order to resume nuclear testing

• Trump orders resumption of US nuclear weapons testing, sparking global backlash.
• The announcement came just before a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
• Russia, China, and Iran condemned the move as dangerous and irresponsible.
• The US has not conducted a live nuclear test since 1992.

US President Donald Trump returned to Washington on Thursday after a shock directive to restart nuclear weapons testing, a move that reignited fears of escalating nuclear tensions among major powers.

The order, announced on Trump’s Truth Social account shortly before a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, drew swift international backlash and confusion over its intent.

The president did not clarify whether his order referred to testing delivery systems or actual nuclear explosions, the latter of which the United States has not conducted since 1992.

Vice President JD Vance defended the move, saying the US arsenal needed to be verified to ensure it “functions properly,” but declined to elaborate on the scope or nature of the testing. “The president’s statement speaks for itself,” Vance told reporters, adding that testing is “an important part of American national security.”

Trump’s directive came just days after Russia announced tests of nuclear-capable missiles and drones, and his post suggested Washington would act “on an equal basis.” He also boasted that the US possesses more nuclear weapons than any other country, a claim contradicted by data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), which lists Russia as having a larger stockpile.

International reaction was swift. Moscow downplayed Trump’s claims and questioned whether he had been properly briefed, while Beijing urged the US to honor the global ban on nuclear testing. Iran’s foreign minister called the order “regressive and irresponsible,” labeling Washington “a nuclear-armed bully.” Meanwhile, the United Nations reiterated that “nuclear testing can never be permitted under any circumstances.”

Although the US remains a signatory to the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, it has never ratified it. The last US nuclear test took place in September 1992 at the Nevada site, after which a moratorium was established.

Despite his provocative statement, Trump later told reporters aboard Air Force One that he still favored “denuclearization” talks with Russia and China. “Denuclearization would be a tremendous thing,” he said.