Trump Announces U.S. Will Begin Testing Nuclear Weapons ‘Immediately’ – Right Before Meeting With Xi

Saul Loeb/Pool Photo via AP, File

President Donald Trump boasted that the U.S. nuclear arsenal is the largest in the world, with China in “a distant third,” and said the U.S. will begin retesting nuclear weapons “immediately.”

The announcement came right before Trump was set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinpin, for the first meeting between the two since his first administration.

The sit-down, slated to take place in the South Korean port city of Busan just off a tarmac at an airport, comes amid the ongoing trade war between China and the U.S., which accelerated in April, when Trump announced sweeping tariffs on dozens of countries. The president hit Chinese goods particularly hard, and China has responded with retaliatory tariffs.

Writing on his Truth Social account, Trump said:

The United States has more Nuclear Weapons than any other country. This was accomplished, including a complete update and renovation of existing weapons, during my First Term in office. Because of the tremendous destructive power, I HATED to do it, but had no choice! Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years. Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately. Thank you for your attention to this matter! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP

The U.S. stopped testing weapons from its nuclear arsenal in 1992.

Trump’s post was reminiscent of a 2018 tweet intended for North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un.

“North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the ‘Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times,’ Trump tweeted at the time. “Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!”

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!