My answer is no. Trump’s answer is yes.
Trump on Truth Social
Truth Social Link: The United States has more Nuclear Weapons than any other country. This was accomplished, including a complete update and renovation of existing weapons, during my First Term in office. 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! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP
Other countries are doing nuclear testing, so we will too, whether we need to or not.
What kind of logic is that?
Testing to Begin Immediately
The Wall Street Journal reports Trump Says U.S. Will Begin Testing Nuclear Weapons
President Trump said that he has ordered the Pentagon to “start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis” with Russia and China.
The U.S. last conducted a nuclear weapons test in 1992 and has joined Russia and China in observing a decadeslong moratorium on underground nuclear blasts.
It wasn’t immediately clear what prompted his post, though Russian President Vladimir Putin said this week that Russia has tested a new type of nuclear-powered cruise missile and a nuclear-powered underwater drone.
The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for additional details. Some experts questioned whether Trump might have been referring to the flight tests of missiles that carry nuclear warheads rather than the nuclear explosive.
For decades, Russia and China have observed a moratorium on underground nuclear tests, along with the U.S. And the U.S. has an extensive program to ensure the reliability of its nuclear arsenal through small nuclear experiments and computer simulations that former officials and many experts say makes testing unnecessary.
The U.S. has conducted more than 1,000 nuclear tests. China has carried out 45 nuclear tests, the last of which was in 1996.
Resuming nuclear testing could also work to the disadvantage of the U.S. since the American weapons complex has carried out many more nuclear tests than China and, thus, has more data to draw on.
“I don’t think testing is necessary to assure reliability of the U.S. nuclear arsenal,” said Gary Samore, who served as the top expert on weapons of mass destruction for former President Bill Clinton’s National Security Council. “It would be a gift to Russia and China, which are developing new types of nuclear weapons and would benefit from the resumption of testing.”
Hopefully, Trump is confusing nuclear testing with testing of delivery systems, but who the hell knows?
And do we need testing of delivery systems? If so why?
Trump Seeks a “Holden Fleet”
Fod those of you watching the budget soar out of sight, please note that Trump Pushes for a Golden Fleet.
President Trump has said he wants a whole new fleet of warships. And now they have a name.
Senior White House and Navy officials are in early discussions to replace the current mix of warships with a new “Golden Fleet” that would be better suited to counter China and other potential future threats, according to former and current officials.
Trump, who has previously criticized the look of modern warships, is involved in the plans and has had multiple conversations with Navy officials about the new vessels, the current and former officials said.
Navy officials have dubbed the project Golden Fleet, following other similarly branded Trump-era initiatives, such as the Golden Dome missile defense system he ordered the military to build in January and the Gold Card immigration program.
Under the Golden Fleet concept, the Navy wants to move away from a specific number of ships as a goal, Clark said. Instead, officials will focus on a fleet of roughly 280-300 crewed ships, plus large numbers of unmanned vessels—called “robotic and autonomous systems”—to bridge the gap.
It could take many years to build new, large warships from scratch, and the ship likely wouldn’t see the light of day until after Trump leaves office. Plans for a replacement cruiser, the canceled CG(X) program, indicate such a ship would take five years to design and another five to seven years to build, according to a former official.
How Much Is that Doggie in the Window?
The administration says “We are not going to focus on the number”, but the number is 280-300.
There was no mention of cost for the golden fleet. There was no mention of cost for nuclear testing.
Rumsfeld Flashback
In 2003 Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said the war in Iraq would cost 3.9 Billion.
In 2014 I noted Defense Dept. to Request $30-40 Billion a Year to Fight ISIS; History Lessons
Anyone recall how the war in Iraq would pay for itself? That was the US Defense Department estimate in 2003.
Now some $3 trillion later (add in veterans’ benefits, depreciation of equipment, humanitarian aid, covert action, and paying for the military efforts of our coalition ‘partners’ and the Total Cost of Iraq, Afghan Wars is $4-6 Trillion.
That was the 2014 cost. The US did not withdraw its last troops from Afghanistan until August 30, 2021. And most Republicans wanted to stay.
Trump’s estimate for the “golden dome” is far less than other estimates.
On May 21, 2025, I asked How Much Will Trump’s “Golden Dome” Missile Defense Shield Cost?
Trump says $175 Billion. The CBO says $542 billion. Think much higher.
One thing we have learned over many decades is no government program ever costs as little as preliminary estimates.
But hey, the golden fleet and the golden dome will be pretty.
