Pete Hegseth Claims It’s ‘Very Responsible’ For the US To Resume Nuclear Testing

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed Friday that it was “very responsible” for the United States to resume nuclear testing as President Donald Trump has ordered.

Hegseth took reporters’ questions in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, after meeting with the secretary general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

One reporter asked, “On nuclear testing, what type of testing is the Defense Department tasked with and how soon?”

“Well, we would work with the Department of Energy,” Hegseth said. “But the president has been clear; we need to have a credible nuclear deterrent. That is the baseline. And so, having understanding and resuming testing is a pretty responsible — very responsible — way to do that. I think it makes nuclear conflict less likely if you know what you have and make sure it operates properly.”

Hegseth continued:

So, it’s the right directive. We’re moving out quickly, and America will ensure that we have the strongest, most capable nuclear arsenal, so that we maintain peace through strength. That’s what this is. In every meeting, that’s what we talk about. Peace through strength.

We don’t seek conflict with China or any other nation. But the stronger we are, the stronger our alliances are, the more we work with allies in this region and around the world, I think the less likely conflict becomes. And that’s the kind of leadership this part of the world has been looking for, for a long time. President Trump talks about a  year ago we were a dead country, and he’s right. What you’re seeing here is a revived spirit of allies and partners that look at an energized America, energized opportunities to work together, and the world takes notice of that. It creates a whole bunch of new opportunities.

Hegseth added, “Across the board, this administration is focused on peace through strength in ways that critics will try to point fingers at. But the president knows exactly why and what he’s executing, so do we, and we’re proud to do it.”

Watch the clip above via C-SPAN.