Trump Accelerates US Nuclear Arsenal: Orders Immediate Testing to Counter China’s Rapid Rise
Trump orders immediate nuclear testing and $50B surge to outpace China’s arsenal – warns Beijing will match US in 5 years
Washington, D.C. – In a bold move signaling a new era of American nuclear dominance, President Donald Trump has directed the Department of Energy and the Pentagon to dramatically expand the United States’ nuclear weapons program, including the authorization of immediate testing protocols. The executive order, signed late Wednesday, aims to close what Trump described as a dangerous gap with adversaries like China, which he warned could achieve nuclear parity with the U.S. within five years.
Speaking from the Oval Office flanked by Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth and Energy Secretary nominee Chris Wright, Trump framed the decision as essential for national security in an increasingly volatile global landscape. “China is building nukes like they’re going out of style – faster than anyone thought possible. They’re cheating on every deal, and in five years, they’ll be even with us, or worse. Not on my watch,” Trump declared, his voice rising with characteristic fervor. “We’re ramping up production, modernizing our arsenal, and yes, we’re testing right away. No more holding back while our enemies play catch-up.”
The order mandates a surge in funding for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), allocating an additional $50 billion over the next fiscal year to accelerate the development of next-generation warheads, hypersonic delivery systems, and low-yield tactical nukes. For the first time since the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty was signed in 1996 – which the U.S. has yet to ratify – Trump has greenlit “verification testing” at sites like the Nevada National Security Site. Officials clarified that these would be subcritical or computer-simulated tests to skirt full atmospheric detonations, though critics fear it could unravel decades of non-proliferation efforts.
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions with Beijing, following reports from U.S. intelligence agencies that China has expanded its nuclear stockpile from around 350 warheads in 2020 to over 1,000 by mid-2025, with projections of 1,500 by 2030. Trump singled out President Xi Jinping in his remarks, accusing the Chinese leader of “laughing at us behind closed doors” while pouring resources into silo fields in the Gobi Desert and submarine-launched ballistic missiles. “Xi thinks he can outbuild us? We’ll bury him in the numbers,” Trump added, invoking Cold War-era bravado.
Russia, too, loomed large in the president’s calculus. Citing Moscow’s recent deployment of Poseidon nuclear torpedoes and alleged violations of the New START treaty, Trump warned that the U.S. must deter “Putin’s madman routine” alongside China’s ascent. The order also calls for joint exercises with NATO allies to integrate nuclear capabilities, potentially including the U.K. and France in simulated scenarios.
Reactions poured in swiftly from across the political spectrum. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer decried the move as “reckless escalation that risks a new arms race,” urging congressional oversight hearings. On the right, House Speaker Mike Johnson hailed it as “visionary leadership,” pledging bipartisan support for the funding bill expected to hit the floor next week.
Arms control experts expressed alarm. Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, told reporters, “This isn’t just a program ramp-up; it’s a signal to the world that the taboo on testing is over. China and Russia will respond in kind, and we’re all worse off for it.” Conversely, Heritage Foundation analyst Rebeccah Heinrichs praised the strategy, arguing it restores deterrence eroded under previous administrations.
Environmental groups, including Greenpeace, vowed immediate legal challenges, citing risks to public health from even simulated tests. “Nevada’s downwinders have suffered enough – this revives the ghosts of the atomic age,” said campaigner Susan Gordon.
As the White House scrambles to notify Congress and brief allies, the order underscores Trump’s “peace through strength” doctrine, now laser-focused on the nuclear triad. With implementation slated to begin in Q1 2026, the world watches warily: Will this blunt China’s ambitions, or ignite a global firestorm? Only time – and perhaps the next test – will tell.
