‘US has more nuclear weapons than any other nation,’ says Trump

The announcement comes amid recent test reports from China, Russia, and other nations, which have reignited global concerns over a renewed nuclear arms race.

“I hated to do it, but had no choice,” says Trump

In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed that the US remains the world leader in nuclear capability, followed by Russia and China. However, he warned that both rivals could achieve nuclear parity with the US within the next five years.

“I hated to do it, but had no choice,” Trump wrote, implying that the resumption of nuclear testing was a strategic necessity in response to growing threats.

Announcement follows Russia’s recent tests

Trump’s statement came shortly after Russia conducted multiple nuclear weapons tests, including the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile and the Poseidon underwater nuclear torpedo — both touted as having massive destructive potential.

US’s first nuclear test resumption in over three decades

If carried out, the move would mark the first US nuclear weapons test since September 23, 1992, when the last underground detonation took place in Nevada. That same year, then-President George H. W. Bush imposed a moratorium on such testing.

Trump’s directive signals a potential shift away from the decades-long restraint observed under international nuclear test bans — heightening tensions amid a volatile global security landscape