Nuclear Posturing: Trump’s Order Follows Russian Missile Test

In a significant move of nuclear posturing, Donald Trump has ordered a resumption of U.S. testing, shortly after Russia tested a new nuclear-powered cruise missile. Trump’s order is based on claims of secret foreign tests, which China has sharply denied.
The order to “start testing” has, however, sparked widespread confusion. It is not known if the social media post refers to computational modeling or the first U.S. physical detonation since 1992.
Trump justified the move by claiming rivals are already testing. “Russia’s testing, and China’s testing,” he said in an interview, alleging the tests were “way underground.”
China’s foreign ministry swiftly refuted the claim. A spokesperson stated that Beijing is a “responsible nuclear-weapons state” and has always “abided by its commitment to suspend nuclear testing.”
Trump has also been boasting about the U.S. nuclear arsenal, claiming it is the “world’s largest,” adding to the escalating rhetoric.