Trump starts new nuclear arms race as he orders | Political News

President Donald Trump on Wednesday ordered Pete Hegseth and the Department of Defense to immediately start testing nuclear weapons at a stage equal to China, less than an hour before he was set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In a post on his Truth Social media account, Trump said that “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.” He also falsely acknowledged that the U.S. has the most nuclear weapons of any nation. Russia has more than 5,500 nuclear warheads and the U.S. has 5,044, according to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.

Trump despatched out the post shortly before assembly with Xi in South Korea on Thursday morning. The go to was half of his tour of Asia, in which he and a number of Asian nations’ leaders have tried to come to commerce battle truces. Nevada congresswoman Dina Titus, who represents the area home to the Nevada National Security Site, said in response to Trump’s social media decree: “Absolutely not. I’ll be introducing legislation to put a stop to this.”

There was no indication that the U.S. would start detonating warheads, and the army already commonly exams its missiles and other gear. The president recommended adjustments had been obligatory because other international locations had been testing their weapons. Russia has announced a number of exams not too long ago, according to The Associated Press.

“It’s an honor to be with a friend of mine,” Trump said of Xi as their assembly commenced. He said the 2 shall be having some discussions, but “I think we’ve already agreed to a lot of things.”

Accompanying Trump had been commerce consultant Jamieson Greer, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, White House chief of workers Susie Wiles and David Perdue, the U.S. ambassador to China.

“We do not always see eye to eye with each other,” Xi said through a translator, including that “it is normal for the two leading economies of the world to have frictions now and then.”

However, he said, China and the U.S. “are fully able to help each other succeed and prosper together.”

Trump’s aggressive use of tariffs since returning to the White House for a second time period mixed with China’s retaliatory limits on exports of uncommon earth components have given the assembly newfound urgency. There is a mutual recognition that neither aspect desires to risk blowing up the world financial system in methods that may jeopardize their own nation’s fortunes.

Aboard Air Force One on his method to South Korea, Trump told reporters he might scale back tariffs that he positioned on China earlier this 12 months associated to its position in making fentanyl.

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“I expect to be lowering that because I believe that they’re going to help us with the fentanyl situation,” Trump said, later including, “The relationship with China is very good.”

Asked by a reporter before his assembly with Xi why he had modified his nuclear plan, Trump replied: “Thank you very much.”

On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he had efficiently examined a “unique” Burevestnik cruise missile, which the Kremlin said would “ensure the country’s national security.”

Trump called the announcement “not appropriate.” Putin aide Sergei Ryabkov told Russian media, however, that Moscow had notified the White House about the take a look at in advance, according to The Guardian.

Putin’s posturing about his alleged weapons testing, and Trump’s retort, come as the U.S. and Russia have seen a break in their correspondence over the battle with Ukraine.