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Energy Secretary Chris Wright clarified comments that were made last week by President Donald Trump on Truth Social about renewed nuclear testing during an appearance on Fox News' The Sunday Briefing. Wright told Fox News' Peter Doocy that people wouldn't see explosions or anything similar to previous nuclear tests carried out in the United States, saying, “I think the tests we’re talking about right now are system tests. These are not nuclear explosions. These are what we call non-critical explosions.” Wright elaborated that such tests involve “all the other parts of a nuclear weapon to make sure they deliver the appropriate geometry and they set up the nuclear explosion,” but do not include actual atomic detonations. Newsweek reached out to the Pentagon and the White House regarding testing nuclear testing Sunday. Why It Matters U.S. nuclear weapons policy has global ramifications, impacting diplomatic relations and international security. The U.S. last conducted a nuclear weapons test in 1992 at the Nevada National Security Site underground. In 1996, the country signed onto the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, which "bans all nuclear test explosions, whether for military or civilian purposes." However, the Senate rejected its ratification in 1999. With rivals like Russia, China and Iran accelerating their nuclear programs, the Trump administration’s public signals have drawn close scrutiny from lawmakers, the public, and America’s allies and adversaries. The clarification from Wright provides new insights on the administration's approach to nuclear deterrence and the ongoing debate about how best to maintain the safety and reliability of the U.S. arsenal while avoiding breaches of international bans on nuclear detonations. What To Know On Truth Social last week, Trump wrote that the U.S. "has more nuclear weapons than any other country," saying it was "accomplished, including a complete update and renovation of existing weapons" during his first term. The president added: "Because of the tremendous destructive power, I HATED to do it, but had no choice! Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years. Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" On Wednesday, reporters aboard Air Force One asked Trump about his post, seeking details about what it would look like for the U.S. resuming such tests. “We’re going to do some testing,” the president said. “Other countries do it. If they’re going to do it, we’re going to.” He declined to provide further details. During his appearance on The Sunday Briefing, Wright was asked by Doocy if residents near the U.S. military’s nuclear testing site in Nevada “should expect to see a mushroom cloud at some point.” Wright responded: “No, no worries about that.” The Federation of American Scientists estimates that the U.S. has a nuclear stockpile of about 3,700 warheads, with about 1,700 deployed, while the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) puts the total U.S. inventory at 5,177, with Russia at 5,459. SIPRI notes that "Russia and the USA together possess around 90 percent of all nuclear weapons." The U.S. and the Soviet Union engaged in a nuclear arms race during the Cold War. Only North Korea has conducted a nuclear test detonation this century—the last in 2017—though Russia and China have tested delivery systems but not warheads, according to the Associated Press. Beijing and Moscow have intensified their nuclear weapons programs in recent years, but neither has confirmed violation of the testing moratorium. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday that the Pentagon is moving "quickly" on Trump's directive. He said during a meeting with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that the department will work with the Department of Energy on nuclear testing, saying that the "president was clear. We need a credible nuclear deterrent.” What People Are Saying Senator Mark Kelly, an Arizona Democrat, wrote on X on Thursday: "New nuclear tests are unnecessary escalation by a President who doesn’t seem to be paying attention. The Chinese and the Russians HAVEN’T conducted a recent test of a nuclear warhead. It’s been decades. If we resume testing our weapons (which we have no reason to do) China will likely begin a test program. This only helps them advance their technology and start an arms race. Read your briefing materials, Mr. President." Corey Hinderstein, vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for Nuclear Peace, told NPR: "I think a decision to resume nuclear testing would be extremely dangerous and would do more to benefit our adversaries than the United States." Ernest Moniz, American nuclear physicist, former secretary of energy, and CEO of The Nuclear Threat Initiative, in a statement on Thursday: "If explosive testing were to resume, it would mark the end of a three-decade-long moratorium on U.S. nuclear testing. Testing nuclear weapons is unnecessary for U.S. national security, unwise because it will invite our adversaries to do the same, and unwelcome in communities close to the test site." Vice Admiral Richard Correll, nominee to lead U.S. Strategic Command, said at a Senate hearing last week: “I don’t have insight into the President’s intent. I agree that could be an interpretation.” What Happens Next? The Trump administration has not announced any timetable for a resumption of explosive tests, and top officials have continued to emphasize the non-nuclear nature of planned activities. The situation continues to be closely monitored by lawmakers and international observers, with calls for further transparency and discussion.
