The logic of Trump resuming nuclear weapons testing

Spectator World ^ | 11/01/2025 | Freddy Gray

[SeekAndFind]

In this fraught international context, Trump is acting totally sane

Donald Trump has exercised the nuclear option, sort of. Sitting somewhere in South Korea, the President launched a Truth Social post on the topic of nukes: “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.” Then he thanked the world for its attention and sallied into a meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping.

That timing isn’t coincidental. The Red Dragon has spent the last decade hoarding nuclear warheads – almost as if there were a second Cold War raging – and has been rather brazen about this fact. So too has Xi’s pouty neighbor to the north, Vladimir Putin. As Owen Matthews explains in the upcoming US edition of The Spectator, the Russian President keeps popping up on state television to flex his mad scientists’ novel nuclear technologies, including an ICBM nicknamed “Satan II.”

Those schoolmarms who still believe in international law reacted predictably, claiming that President Trump was exploding decades of peaceful restraint. They are especially concerned that he’s violating the New START treaty, America’s agreement with Russia that limits the number of warheads either country can keep in their back pocket.

But that treaty is in tatters. Russia called it quits in 2023. Neither country has let the other inspect any nuclear facility in years, and the agreement is set to expire in February, with no option for renewal. More importantly, China, the world’s most nuke-hungry state, has never been a part of this pact – or any other nuclear nonproliferation treaty, for that matter.

In this context, then, Trump is acting totally sane. His critics are the lunatics. One of two things can happen: either Putin and Xi see Trump’s threat and de-escalate – in which case we get peace – or they ignore him and continue their current nuclear trajectory – in which case it would certainly be good for Americans to know whether those nuclear-launch buttons actually work. It’s all very rational.

In his best moments, Trump is a peacenik. That’s why he penned love letters to Kim Jong-un. Unlike his predecessors, he’s interested in real peace, not just the appearance of it. That didn’t win him the Nobel Peace Prize, yet, but it could stave off atomic Armageddon for a few more years. Or not.

[frank ballenger]

Would it be considered poor etiquette to test them on Portland, Chicago and Los Angeles? Wouldn’t want to be rude.
As the LeMay Leaflets dropped on Japan before the bombing in WWII, tell the conservatives there to evacuate those cities.
/////////////////////////////////////////////
A few lines of the leaflets....

Before using this bomb to destroy every resource of the military by which they are prolonging this useless war, we ask that you now petition the Emperor to end the war. Our president has outlined for you the thirteen consequences of an honorable surrender. We urge that you accept these consequences and begin the work of building a new, better and peace-loving Japan.

You should take steps now to cease military resistance. Otherwise, we shall resolutely employ this bomb and all our other superior weapons to promptly and forcefully end the war.

EVACUATE YOUR CITIES.

ATTENTION JAPANESE PEOPLE. EVACUATE YOUR CITIES.

[DesertRhino]

He’s an idiot on this. First, he thinks a missile test is a “nuclear test” and seems to have no idea that we test ICBMs on a regular basis.
The Chinese have nowhere near our testing data and experience. They Russians haven’t tested for 35 years.
Nobody but a couple of retarded Nork and Paki tests have happened for over 30 years.

The minute he starts testing, the Russians and especially the Chinese will resume testing.

[dpetty121263]

The City of New York would be an idea site...

[DesertRhino]

I swear, Trump could take a dump in the Oval Office and there would appear a flurry of articles about how efficient and wise it was not to waste time walking to the toilet.

Sycophants.

[Williams]

All this about nuclear testing. I’m pretty sure Trump said we would match them one for one. If they aren’t doing any we won’t either.

[frank ballenger]

But the reason they didn’t evacuate in Fail Safe was the people fighting each other to get out would block the ways out anyway.

We’ll see if the Mamdani Exodus (without the leadership of Moses) will work.

[Williams]

Trump hater.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I worked on the last nuclear effects test in Nevada in 1992. The technical and human ability at that time was about at the end of its rope. We were dependent on scientists that had been testing since the late 50’s. The hardware was all purpose built, and those companies and capabilities are all gone.

Containment of the test was an art, and all those guy are long retired.

[DesertRhino]

No simpleton. But this is an idiot move. Go ahead and cheerlead for an expensive off-the-cuff policy of popping off nukes that gives China and Russia a fantastic excuse to start doing the same.

It’s not 4D chess, it’s an impulsive thing he dreamed up and popped off about.

[DesertRhino]

Cannot imagine the process and expense to start testing again. And most of all as you mention, the loss of anyone with a clue on doing it. As you said, the “art” of it.
Some things defy a manual...

[pfflier]

The US nuclear stockpile has been tested only by simulation for many years now, not by actual performance. What goes bang in theory may not in real life.

[Williams]

He said we will match them if they test.

[lightman]

4-D chess.

Testing a few nukes ensures that our defense contractors will have steady employment in replacing the tested devices.

[dpetty121263]

Well the real reason as Moscow didn’t have time as Moscow was not alerted due to a couple of Generals going nuts in the book if I remember right so Henry Fonda who was playing the President ordered the US Ambassador not to go into the failout shelter and there was a loud sound when the phone melted. The Russian President blew his top at the idea of sacrificing Moscow in exchange for an American Ambassador’s life and that is when the President informed the Russians he was ordering a B-58 Vindicator to blow up New York City where his Wife was shopping. Seems I had saw a article a long time ago the writer wanted to say the President also then committed suicide but the publisher removed it but allowed General Black as the story line would not make any sense.

[Williams]

you think it would be so hard to test then why would we have faith the systems work?

Putin announced they “tested” a nightmare weapon to cause radioactive tsunamis. So Trump said we will match any actual test they do one for one.

Why wouldn’t we? I doubt this will ever happen.

Just maybe Trump knows more than you do and there is intelligence that Putin is planning a full test.

[Sacajaweau]

This is the testing of the delivery systems......No one is setting off nukes...

[Williams]

I did read the book and forget that exact detail but in the movie the president clearly intended to nuke NYC. After he told the ambassador to stay on the phone, the Soviet leader said is that your tradeoff, one ambassador for Moscow and the president interrupts “no no no!” and reveals that he’s given the order to drop 2 identical bombs on nyc.

Which IMHO was an insane decision but it was meant to show the nightmare of MAD.

[digger48]

Thank you

[Williams]

Exactly, although Trump wasn’t clear in his statement. He said he’ll match them one for one, so if they aren’t planning advisor tests there won’t be any.

Trump likes to remind Russia not to rattle its nuclear saber at him.