Trump Announces Intent to Resume Nuclear Weapons Testing, Sparking Concern
Donald Trump announced his intention for the United States to “instantly” resume nuclear weapons testing, a move that has drawn swift criticism from arms control experts and raised concerns about a potential escalation of global nuclear tensions. The announcement, made via a social media post, surprised many in the national security community.
Daryl Kimball, head of the Arms Control Association, stated the U.S. “has no technical, military, or political reason to resume nuclear explosive testing.” In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Kimball warned the announcement could “trigger strong public opposition in Nevada,” the historical site of U.S. underground nuclear tests, invite condemnation from allies, “trigger a chain reaction of testing by U.S. adversaries,” and jeopardize international agreements aimed at preventing nuclear proliferation.
Andrea Stricker of the Foundation for Defense of democracies suggested Trump needs “to clarify what he means” by “nuclear testing,” hypothesizing he may consider low-yield tests, similar to those perhaps conducted by Russia and China, as a means to initiate new arms control negotiations before the expiration of the last remaining U.S.-Russia arms control treaty in February 2026. She shared her analysis on X.
The Department of Energy and the Pentagon have not yet responded to requests for comment.
Brandon Williams, the Trump-appointed head of the National Nuclear Security Administration, previously advised against resuming nuclear weapons tests, telling lawmakers in April he would recommend the administration refrain from such action.
The U.S. has not conducted a full-scale nuclear weapons test since 1992, adhering to a moratorium alongside othre nations. Resuming testing would violate the spirit, and potentially the letter, of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-ban Treaty, though the U.S. has not ratified the treaty.
Contributing: Francesca Chambers, USA TODAY
Davis Winkie’s role covering nuclear threats and national security at USA TODAY is supported by a partnership with Outrider Foundation and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input.