A social media post from Donald Trump instructing the “Department of War” to “start testing” is being interpreted by some as a signal for a new arms race. The move, which Trump claims is a response to secret foreign tests, has caused confusion and a denial from China.
The confusion is palpable, as the directive’s ambiguity leaves it unclear whether Trump means computational modeling or a physical detonation. The U.S. has not physically tested a nuclear weapon since 1992.
Trump’s rationale is that the U.S. is being outpaced. He alleged in a CBS interview that both Russia and China are conducting tests “way underground” and “don’t talk about it.”
China’s foreign ministry immediately denied the accusation. A spokesperson asserted that Beijing is “responsible” and has “abided by its commitment to suspend nuclear testing.”
This directive comes in a tense environment, following a new Russian missile test and Trump’s own claims that the U.S. possesses the “world’s largest” nuclear arsenal.