Trump’s “Department of War” Post on Nuclear Tests Creates Chaos

A social media post from Donald Trump, instructing the “Department of War” to “start testing,” has created significant confusion and international backlash. The vague directive has left allies and adversaries alike scrambling to understand its true intent and implications for global nuclear policy.
The primary point of confusion is what “testing” means. Experts are divided on whether the order refers to permissible computational simulations or a directive to prepare for a physical nuclear detonation, which the U.S. has not done since 1992.
Trump’s justification for the order is his stated belief that other nations are cheating. He specifically called out Russia and China, claiming in an interview that they are conducting secret tests “way underground.”
China’s response was immediate and sharp. A foreign ministry spokesperson flatly denied the claim, stating China is a “responsible” nuclear power and has always “abided by its commitment to suspend nuclear testing.”
The incident has heightened geopolitical tensions, especially as it follows a recent Russian missile test and Trump’s own boasts about the size of the U.S. nuclear arsenal. The ambiguity of the order has only added to the volatility.