Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the United States has nuclear capability powerful enough to destroy the world roughly 150 times. His comments came shortly after he did not receive the Nobel Peace Prize, despite his previous efforts to portray himself as a leader who prevented multiple conflicts and pushed for global mediation. After failing to secure the award, Trump shifted tone from promoting peace to emphasizing American military strength, particularly its nuclear arsenal.
During an interview with CBS News, Trump defended his directive for the Pentagon to resume nuclear weapons testing, reversing a 33-year halt on full explosive nuclear tests that had been in place since 1992. He argued that other nations, including Russia, China, North Korea, and Pakistan, were conducting covert or open nuclear tests, and said the United States should not be the only nuclear power refraining from testing. In his view, resuming such tests was necessary to maintain strategic advantage, verify functionality, and demonstrate strength in a competitive global environment.
Trump claimed that the United States possesses the world's largest and most powerful nuclear arsenal, while also acknowledging that other nuclear-armed countries are expanding their capabilities. In the interview, he said that he had discussed denuclearization with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, but simultaneously stressed the need for the United States to remain ahead in nuclear defense.
He asserted that foreign nuclear programs operate in secrecy, saying authoritarian systems avoid scrutiny from independent media. By contrast, Trump framed U.S. transparency as a structural disadvantage in nuclear strategy debates. He accused other nations of conducting underground tests to evade global monitoring and claimed that minor vibrations could be felt from such activities.
Trump's decision to call for renewed nuclear testing has reignited international debate about deterrence, nuclear escalation, and global strategic stability. The move has raised concerns among arms-control advocates and security experts, who warn that resuming tests could accelerate nuclear competition, undermine decades of non-proliferation work, and increase global tensions during an already unstable period in international relations.
