Trump does not rule out possibility of underground nuclear tests

Tengrinews.kz – U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on Friday that the United States will resume nuclear testing, while refusing to rule out the possibility of underground nuclear tests, citing Live5 News.

Trump did not specify exactly what “resuming testing” means but noted that the tests would be conducted “pretty responsibly”, in line with other countries’ programs.

“You’ll find out very soon. We’re going to do some testing. Other countries do it. If they’re going to do it, we’re going to,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.

The day before, Trump announced that he had ordered the U.S. military to immediately restart nuclear weapons testing after a 33-year hiatus.

He made the unexpected statement on social media while aboard his Marine One helicopter en route to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping for trade talks in Busan, South Korea.

It remains unclear whether Trump was referring to nuclear warhead detonation tests conducted by the National Nuclear Security Administration or flight tests of nuclear-capable missiles.

Experts have warned that resuming explosive nuclear tests would mark a dangerous escalation amid global proliferation concerns. The U.S. has not conducted such tests for 33 years, and no nuclear-armed state—except North Korea in 2017—has done so in over 25 years.

Congresswoman Dina Titus, a Democrat from Nevada, where the U.S. nuclear test site is located, introduced a bill on Friday to ban the resumption of explosive nuclear testing and block funding for it.

Titus, author of a history of U.S. nuclear testing, said such a move would encourage Russia and China to follow suit and “again expose Nevada residents to toxic radiation and environmental destruction.”

In Moscow, officials responded to Trump’s remarks, stating that if “someone withdraws from the moratorium, Russia will act accordingly.”

A Kremlin spokesperson added that the U.S. had not informed Russia of any plans to resume nuclear testing and that no other country is currently engaged in such activities.