On October 30th, US President Trump (pictured) announced that he had ordered the Department of Defense to immediately begin testing nuclear weapons. Photographed on the 29th in Gyeongju, South Korea (2025 Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein)
BUSAN, South Korea (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump said on the 30th that he has ordered the Department of Defense to immediately begin nuclear weapons testing. If carried out, it will be the first time in 33 years.
He made a sudden announcement on the social networking site (SNS) “Truth Social” while boarding the presidential helicopter “Marine One” heading for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea.
“Based on other countries’ nuclear testing programs, I have directed the Department of War to begin comparable nuclear weapons testing. That process will begin immediately,” he wrote.
He did not provide details or answer questions from reporters. It is not immediately clear whether he is referring to a nuclear explosion test conducted by the National Nuclear Security Administration or a flight test of a nuclear-capable missile.
Speaking to reporters on the presidential plane after the U.S.-China summit, the president said it was appropriate for the U.S. to resume nuclear testing to keep pace with other nuclear powers, and that he would decide on the test site later.
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