Nuclear Test Showdown Trump Signals US May Restart Underground Blasts

In a striking shift in U.S. policy, Donald Trump on Friday reaffirmed that the United States is preparing to resume nuclear weapons testing, potentially including underground detonations. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump told reporters: “You’ll find out very soon. But we’re going to do some testing, yeah … Other countries do it. If they’re going to do it, we’re going to do it. I’m not going to say here.” 

This announcement comes as the Trump administration directed the United States Department of Defense to “immediately begin testing US nuclear weapons on an equal basis to China and Russia.” While the U.S. has the most extensive nuclear arsenal globally, Trump argued the country had to respond because “others are doing testing.” 

Historically, the U.S. halted above-ground nuclear tests in the late 1950s and embraced a permanent test ban on underground detonations in 1992 in light of growing environmental and geopolitical concerns. Now, with decades of moratorium behind it, the U.S. stands poised to re-enter a domain that many had long considered closed.

The implications are extensive. On one hand, advocates say renewed testing would signal strength showing adversaries the U.S. still holds cutting-edge capability and is unwilling to be outpaced. On the other hand, opponents warn of a fresh arms race, with allies and rivals alike bracing for heightened tension. Some lawmakers from Nevada, a state long impacted by past tests, condemned the move as a public-health and geopolitical hazard. 

Technical experts question the necessity of “live” nuclear tests today, pointing out that simulation technologies and other verification methods have, for decades, allowed the U.S. to maintain its arsenal without physical detonations. Cost is also a factor: each test could run into hundreds of millions of dollars, while the reputational and environmental fallout could be far greater.

For the global community, this moment may mark a turning point. The prospect of the United States resuming nuclear testing after a long hiatus invites concerns: Will treaties be undercut? Will arms control regimes unravel? Will other nations accelerate their own programs? Allies who once relied on U.S. leadership now face uncertainty, while adversaries may interpret the move as a dramatic power play.

In short, Trump’s statement is more than a rhetorical flourish it signals a real possibility of shifting the nuclear landscape. As the world watches, the question is not just if the U.S. will test again, but when, where, and how the repercussions will unfold.