US President Donald Trump announced on his social media platform Truth Social earlier this week that the US will resume its nuclear weapons testing program, sparking widespread alarm and concern about global security. According to Trump, the decision was made due to other countries' nuclear testing programs, prompting him to instruct the Department of War to start testing the country's nuclear arsenal "on an equal basis." 
This move reverses a 33-year-old policy, where the US ended its nuclear test program in 1992. The last nuclear test conducted by the US took place on September 23rd, 1992. Since then, the country has relied on science-based stockpile stewardship programs instead of nuclear testing.
Trump's announcement was also accompanied by a claim that he had managed to increase the number of nuclear weapons in the US arsenal during his first term in office, surpassing that of Russia. According to him, this was achieved through "a complete update and renovation of existing weapons" and a massive build-up of new ones. However, it remains unclear whether Trump's assertion about surpassing Russia is accurate.
The resumption of nuclear testing has raised concerns among international diplomats and security experts who have long advocated for the US and other countries to prioritize arms control agreements. The move also casts doubt on the Trump administration's commitment to reducing global nuclear threats and follows his broader stance on military expansion and assertive foreign policy.
				
			This move reverses a 33-year-old policy, where the US ended its nuclear test program in 1992. The last nuclear test conducted by the US took place on September 23rd, 1992. Since then, the country has relied on science-based stockpile stewardship programs instead of nuclear testing.
Trump's announcement was also accompanied by a claim that he had managed to increase the number of nuclear weapons in the US arsenal during his first term in office, surpassing that of Russia. According to him, this was achieved through "a complete update and renovation of existing weapons" and a massive build-up of new ones. However, it remains unclear whether Trump's assertion about surpassing Russia is accurate.
The resumption of nuclear testing has raised concerns among international diplomats and security experts who have long advocated for the US and other countries to prioritize arms control agreements. The move also casts doubt on the Trump administration's commitment to reducing global nuclear threats and follows his broader stance on military expansion and assertive foreign policy.

 I'm literally shaking thinking about the implications of nuclear testing resuming in the US... 33 years without a test?! it's crazy how fast things can change in politics & diplomacy
 I'm literally shaking thinking about the implications of nuclear testing resuming in the US... 33 years without a test?! it's crazy how fast things can change in politics & diplomacy 
 I don't trust Trump's claims about increasing nuclear weapons, sounds like another one of his wild Twitter rants to me
 I don't trust Trump's claims about increasing nuclear weapons, sounds like another one of his wild Twitter rants to me  #NuclearTestingResumes #GlobalSecurityAtRisk #TrumpAdministrationUnderFire
 #NuclearTestingResumes #GlobalSecurityAtRisk #TrumpAdministrationUnderFire and honestly can we trust him on this one? hasn't he been all over the map when it comes to nuclear policy already?
 and honestly can we trust him on this one? hasn't he been all over the map when it comes to nuclear policy already?  it's a total recipe for disaster!
 it's a total recipe for disaster! and btw has anyone seen the new missiles he's got or is that still top secret
 and btw has anyone seen the new missiles he's got or is that still top secret 
 i really hope it doesn't come to a nuke war we dont need that kinda drama
 i really hope it doesn't come to a nuke war we dont need that kinda drama 
 ... what is going on?!
... what is going on?!  We need to focus on diplomacy and reducing tensions, not ramping up the threat level!
 We need to focus on diplomacy and reducing tensions, not ramping up the threat level! 
 The thought of all those tests happening again is just devastating... what about the environment, the planet?!
 The thought of all those tests happening again is just devastating... what about the environment, the planet?!  How are we supposed to mitigate that kind of damage?!
 How are we supposed to mitigate that kind of damage?!  Are we really going to compete in this arms race?!
 Are we really going to compete in this arms race?!  I'm so worried about the future and our global security...
 I'm so worried about the future and our global security... 
 and now it's gonna test nukes again... i get why trump's trying to one-up other countries but like, is this really worth it?
 and now it's gonna test nukes again... i get why trump's trying to one-up other countries but like, is this really worth it?  the international community's all worried about global security now
 the international community's all worried about global security now 
 . Think about it, the US has basically been playing nuclear poker without testing its cards since 1992 and now they're gonna start bluffing again? It's like they're saying, "Hey, we'll just keep building and see what happens." Meanwhile, other countries are just gonna keep doing their own thing and the whole world is left holding a hot potato
. Think about it, the US has basically been playing nuclear poker without testing its cards since 1992 and now they're gonna start bluffing again? It's like they're saying, "Hey, we'll just keep building and see what happens." Meanwhile, other countries are just gonna keep doing their own thing and the whole world is left holding a hot potato  . And let's be real, Trump's claim about surpassing Russia on nuclear weapons? I'm highly doubtful
. And let's be real, Trump's claim about surpassing Russia on nuclear weapons? I'm highly doubtful  .
. i'm sure there are gonna be some super angry diplomatic meetings coming up over this...
 i'm sure there are gonna be some super angry diplomatic meetings coming up over this...
 and can we pls verify these claims about nuke numbers?
 and can we pls verify these claims about nuke numbers?  after all the drama he's caused over the years... Like, who else could make a nuclear arms buildup sound like a good idea?
 after all the drama he's caused over the years... Like, who else could make a nuclear arms buildup sound like a good idea?  Meanwhile, Russia is probably just shaking their heads and thinking "oh great, another American trying to one-up us". The US has been pretty solid on reducing global nuclear threats for decades now, so it's kinda weird that they're going back on that. Guess you could say Trump is all about "testing" his leadership skills...
 Meanwhile, Russia is probably just shaking their heads and thinking "oh great, another American trying to one-up us". The US has been pretty solid on reducing global nuclear threats for decades now, so it's kinda weird that they're going back on that. Guess you could say Trump is all about "testing" his leadership skills...  "We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our lives are so presented in this strange and dreary world that what we call most boldly 'our' is most dearly bought with some other's blood, sweat, tears." It's like the whole world is watching and waiting to see how this all plays out... I just hope diplomacy can prevail and prevent a nuclear arms race
 "We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our lives are so presented in this strange and dreary world that what we call most boldly 'our' is most dearly bought with some other's blood, sweat, tears." It's like the whole world is watching and waiting to see how this all plays out... I just hope diplomacy can prevail and prevent a nuclear arms race  "War does not settle issues; it merely creates new ones"
 "War does not settle issues; it merely creates new ones" what's next? is he gonna test nukes in his backyard too? like, I get it, other countries are testing, but come on, Trump's always been all about "making America great again" by blowing stuff up
 what's next? is he gonna test nukes in his backyard too? like, I get it, other countries are testing, but come on, Trump's always been all about "making America great again" by blowing stuff up  . a 33-year policy just got tossed out the window because... nuance? and btw, how can we trust him when he claims to have increased our nuke count?
. a 33-year policy just got tossed out the window because... nuance? and btw, how can we trust him when he claims to have increased our nuke count? 
 nukes are not toys, dude!
 nukes are not toys, dude! 
 ... i'm also curious about trump's claim that he increased the number of nuclear weapons in the us arsenal... has anyone fact-checked that one?
... i'm also curious about trump's claim that he increased the number of nuclear weapons in the us arsenal... has anyone fact-checked that one?  Trump's decision to bring back nuclear testing is super concerning
 Trump's decision to bring back nuclear testing is super concerning  . And what's even crazier is that he's doing it because of other countries' tests? Like, isn't that just more of the same old geopolitics
. And what's even crazier is that he's doing it because of other countries' tests? Like, isn't that just more of the same old geopolitics  . And what about all those science-based stockpile stewardship programs we've been using instead? Are we just gonna abandon them too?
. And what about all those science-based stockpile stewardship programs we've been using instead? Are we just gonna abandon them too?  . Let's hope our international diplomats are working overtime to address this issue
. Let's hope our international diplomats are working overtime to address this issue