While accusing China of conducting secret nuclear tests, Donald Trump simultaneously dismissed its arsenal as a “distant third” to that of the U.S. and Russia. The comments were made as he ordered a resumption of U.S. testing.
“The United States has more Nuclear Weapons than any other country,” Trump posted on Truth Social. He added that Russia has the second-most, “with China being a ‘distant third.'”
Despite this, he claimed both nations were secretly testing, forcing his hand. “I have instructed the Department of War to start testing… on an equal basis,” he wrote. He reiterated this in a CBS interview, stating, “Russia’s testing, and China’s testing.”
China’s foreign ministry denied the accusations. A spokesperson stated that China is a “responsible nuclear-weapons state” with a “self-defence” posture and has honored its testing suspension.
Trump’s order has led to confusion over whether the U.S. will conduct its first nuclear explosion since 1992. His claims that rivals are testing “way underground” have been met with skepticism.
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