Trump proposes resuming U.S. nuclear weapons testing ahead of Xi meeting

President Donald Trump declared that he wanted to begin testing America’s nuclear weapons just before his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea.

(NBC)- President Donald Trump declared that he wanted to begin testing America’s nuclear weapons just before his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea. He later clarified the move wasn’t related to China, saying, “That had nothing to do with them. It had to do with others.”

On Truth Social, Trump wrote that the United States “has more nuclear weapons than any other country,” adding his concern that Russia and China could “catch up with the U.S. in five years.” He said testing should be conducted “on an equal basis” with other nations, but did not specify what that would entail.

Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen responded on X, calling the announcement a contradiction of prior commitments she said Trump’s own nominees made against resuming explosive nuclear testing.

After returning from South Korea aboard Air Force One, Trump called his meeting with Xi a success, rating it “a 12 out of 10.”

During the talks, the two leaders discussed fentanyl trafficking, China’s export of rare earth minerals, and trade relations. Trump said the U.S. would lower tariffs on Chinese goods from 57% to 47%, calling the session “an outstanding group of decisions” with “not too much left out there.”