Donald Trump has ordered the U.S. to “start testing” nuclear weapons, justifying the controversial move with allegations that Russia and China are already conducting secret tests. “Russia’s testing, and China’s testing,” Trump claimed in an interview, “but they don’t talk about it.”
The former president alleged these foreign tests were being conducted “way underground,” making them invisible to the public. He used this claim as the primary justification for his order, which could potentially end a decades-long U.S. moratorium on nuclear explosions.
The directive, which was posted on social media and directed at the “Department of War,” has been met with confusion. It remains unclear whether Trump is demanding advanced computer modeling or the first physical detonation of a U.S. nuclear device since 1992.
China’s foreign ministry immediately and forcefully denied Trump’s accusations. A spokesperson stated that Beijing is a “responsible nuclear-weapons state” and has consistently “abided by its commitment to suspend nuclear testing.”
The order comes in a charged atmosphere, following a recent Russian test of a new nuclear-powered cruise missile. Trump has also recently boasted about the size and power of the American nuclear arsenal, claiming it is the largest in the world.