Trump says he wants to resume nuclear testing. Here's what that would mean

Trump says he wants to resume nuclear testing. Here's what that would mean

Geoff Brumfiel

October 30, 2025 / 10:06 am

President Trump said on Thursday that the U.S. would begin testing nuclear weapons again for the first time in decades.

"We've halted many years ago, but with others doing testing I think it's appropriate to do so," the president told reporters aboard Air Force One.

Experts say that the resumption of testing would be a major escalation and could upend the nuclear balance of power.

"I think a decision to resume nuclear testing would be extremely dangerous and would do more to benefit our adversaries than the United States," said Corey Hinderstein, vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for Nuclear Peace.

Here's what a test would involve, and why the