By Manisha Sahu | America News World
Washington D.C. | November 1, 2025
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has ignited fresh global concern after refusing to rule out the possibility of resuming underground nuclear testing, marking a dramatic shift in America’s nuclear policy after more than three decades of restraint.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One late Friday night, Trump confirmed that the United States would “resume nuclear testing” but declined to clarify whether those tests would include underground detonations — the type banned under international norms since the Cold War era.
“You’ll find out very soon, but we’re going to do some testing,” Trump said when pressed about the scope of the planned nuclear tests. “Other countries do it. If they’re going to do it, we’re going to do it, okay?”
The remarks came just hours after Trump used his social media platform Truth Social to announce that he had ordered the U.S. military to restart nuclear weapons testing immediately, ending a 33-year halt that began in 1992.
A Surprise Announcement En Route to Summit with Xi Jinping
The announcement came in dramatic fashion as Trump was aboard Marine One, en route to Busan, South Korea, where he was scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping for a high-stakes trade negotiation session.
According to administration aides, the former president’s decision appeared to be part of a broader strategy to signal U.S. military readiness and “show strength” amid rising tensions with China and Russia — both of whom have ramped up their own nuclear modernization programs.
“This is about deterrence, not aggression,” one Trump campaign official said on condition of anonymity. “President Trump believes that the world must know America will not be second to any nation in defense capability.”
The statement, however, has triggered alarm among global leaders, arms control experts, and even some within the U.S. national security community who warn that resuming explosive nuclear testing could undermine decades of international non-proliferation efforts.
A 33-Year Break Ends: Background on the U.S. Testing Ban
The United States last conducted an explosive nuclear test in September 1992, during President George H.W. Bush’s administration, at the Nevada Test Site. Since then, Washington has observed a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear testing, relying instead on advanced computer simulations and subcritical experiments to ensure the reliability of its aging nuclear arsenal.
The 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which prohibits all nuclear explosions, was signed by the U.S. but never ratified by the Senate. Nonetheless, every administration since Bill Clinton’s presidency has upheld the moratorium — until now.
By hinting at the possibility of underground detonations, Trump has not only broken with longstanding bipartisan consensus but also risked setting off a new global nuclear arms race.
Reactions from the International Community
World leaders and international organizations reacted swiftly to Trump’s remarks.
A spokesperson for the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs said that any resumption of explosive nuclear testing “would represent a serious setback for global arms control efforts” and could “erode decades of progress toward non-proliferation.”
In Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry officials condemned the announcement, accusing Washington of “destabilizing global security.” Meanwhile, Chinese state media described Trump’s decision as “provocative” but said Beijing would “respond appropriately” if the U.S. conducted underground detonations.
European allies also expressed unease. “We urge restraint and respect for the spirit of the CTBT,” said Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign policy chief. “The world does not need another nuclear race.”
Domestic Reaction: Mixed Support and Alarm
In Washington, reactions were sharply divided along partisan lines.
Republican lawmakers and Trump supporters hailed the move as a necessary step to “modernize America’s deterrence capabilities.” Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) said that “testing ensures readiness” and “sends a message to China and Russia that the United States won’t back down.”
Democrats and non-proliferation advocates, however, blasted the announcement as “reckless and unnecessary.” Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) warned that restarting underground tests “risks undoing 30 years of careful restraint and could encourage other nations to follow suit.”
Nuclear experts have echoed those concerns. Daryl Kimball, Executive Director of the Arms Control Association, said that resuming nuclear tests “would provide no technical advantage” and would “damage U.S. credibility as a responsible global leader.”
What Kind of Tests Are Planned?
It remains unclear exactly what type of “testing” Trump intends to authorize. Some analysts believe he may be referring to subcritical tests — experiments conducted without causing a nuclear explosion — which are currently permitted under U.S. law.
However, Trump’s vague language, combined with his reference to other nations’ underground testing, has raised the possibility that the U.S. could resume full-scale explosive testing, which would violate the spirit of international agreements.
“The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) would oversee any such testing,” said a former Department of Energy official. “If these are explosive tests, the political and environmental consequences will be enormous.”
Why Now? Strategic Motives Behind the Move
Trump’s decision appears rooted in his belief that America’s deterrent power must be demonstrated, not just maintained.
During his 2024 campaign, Trump frequently criticized what he described as “decades of weakness” in U.S. nuclear policy. His administration’s 2025 National Defense Strategy explicitly called for “evaluating the readiness of the nation’s testing infrastructure.”
Experts say Trump may also be attempting to pressure China and Russia into arms control negotiations by signaling that Washington is willing to go further if they continue developing new weapons.
“Trump is using nuclear testing as leverage,” said Dr. Nina Tannenwald, a nuclear policy scholar at Brown University. “But that’s a dangerous gamble. It could just as easily lead to an escalation spiral.”
The Environmental and Ethical Concerns
Environmental groups have strongly condemned the idea of renewed underground testing, citing radioactive contamination risks and the moral implications of reigniting the nuclear arms race.
“The last U.S. nuclear tests left radioactive scars across the Nevada desert and affected downwind communities for generations,” said Leona Morgan, an activist with the Nuclear Free Network. “Repeating that history would be a tragedy.”
Indigenous groups in the American Southwest, whose lands were affected by previous testing, have also vowed to protest any attempt to resume underground detonations.
Global Security Implications
If the United States resumes explosive nuclear testing, analysts warn that Russia, China, and possibly North Korea could respond in kind. The result could be a new wave of global nuclear competition reminiscent of the mid-20th century.
“Every major power has been holding back for 25 years,” said Jeffrey Lewis, a nuclear analyst at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. “If the U.S. breaks that taboo, others will follow. The era of restraint will be over.”
Looking Ahead: A Volatile Moment
As of now, Trump has not provided a timeline or location for the planned nuclear tests. Officials from the Pentagon and the Department of Energy have not confirmed whether logistical preparations are underway.
Nevertheless, the implications of Trump’s statements are reverberating across capitals, think tanks, and security forums worldwide.
Whether the move is a negotiating tactic or the first step toward an actual nuclear test remains uncertain. But one thing is clear — Trump’s words have reignited a global debate over how far America should go to prove its power in an increasingly unstable world.