Trump Orders Resumption of US Nuclear a in 33 Years

In a major reversal of U.S. policy, President Donald J. Trump announced on Thursday, October 30, 2025, that he has instructed the “Department of War” to “immediately resume testing nuclear weapons.” The directive, posted on Truth Social, ends a 33-year-old voluntary moratorium on nuclear explosive testing by the United States.
The last U.S. nuclear test, codenamed “Divider,” took place on September 23, 1992, at the Nevada Test Site.
In his announcement, President Trump cited the need to match the nuclear activities of other nations, specifically Russia and China.
“Because of other countries’ testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis,” Trump wrote. “That process will begin immediately.”
The president’s order comes amid rising global tensions and a new arms race. U.S. intelligence has pointed to China’s rapid nuclear arsenal expansion, which the Pentagon estimates could reach parity with the U.S. within five years. The move also follows recent Russian announcements of successful tests of its nuclear-powered “superweapons,” including the Burevestnik cruise missile and the Poseidon underwater drone.
Trump added, “The United States has more Nuclear Weapons than any other country… Because of the tremendous destructive power, I HATED to do it, but had no choice!”
The timing of the announcement is significant, coming just minutes before President Trump’s high-stakes meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea. The directive is seen as a powerful, if provocative, negotiating tactic designed to project U.S. strength.
Critics and arms control advocates have warned that a resumption of live testing could shatter the global norm established by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and trigger a chain reaction of reciprocal tests from Russia and China, destabilizing global security. Since 1992, the U.S. has relied on computer simulations and subcritical (non-explosive) tests to maintain the safety and reliability of its nuclear stockpile.