TRUMP: ‘I HATED TO DO IT’: President Donald Trump had a thought yesterday and, as is his wont, immediately shared it on his social media platform, prompting some confusion about exactly what he meant. But he’s the president, so it definitely meant something.
“Because of other countries’ testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis,” Trump posted on Truth Social. He added, “That process will begin immediately.”
“Because of the tremendous destructive power, I HATED to do it, but had no choice!” Trump said, indicating the U.S. has to keep up with Russia and China. “Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years.” Trump was asked by a reporter about the change in nuclear testing policy as he sat across from Chinese President Xi Jinping during their meeting in South Korea, but ignored the question.
Other countries “seem to all be nuclear testing,” Trump told reporters later. “I see them testing and I say, well, if they’re going to test, I guess we have to test,” Trump said. “We have more nuclear weapons than anybody. We don’t do testing.”
Asked where the tests might be conducted, Trump said simply, “It’ll be announced. We have test sites.”
ARE WE TALKING MISSILES OR WARHEADS? North Korea is the only country that has detonated nuclear weapons in underground tests in the 21st century. However, many countries, including the United States, have tested delivery systems, such as ICBMs and cruise missiles.
Trump may be reacting to recent announcements from Moscow, which touted a test of its Burevestnik cruise missile with a nuclear propulsion system that Russia claims gives it unlimited range, and could in theory target anywhere in the United States. Russian President Vladimir Putin called it “indeed a unique weapon that no other country possesses.”
Yesterday, Putin announced that Russia also tested its Poseidon nuclear-powered underwater drone earlier this week, citing the vehicle’s “speed and power.”
“Putin’s announcements of even more newly tested nuclear-powered weapons defy U.S. President Donald Trump’s call on October 27 for Putin to focus on ending the war in Ukraine, not testing missiles,” the Institute for the Study of War said in an analysis. “Putin is raising the specter of nuclear war to get Trump and European officials to concede to Russian demands that Russian forces cannot secure on the battlefield.”
However, the ISW noted that while the delivery systems Russia is testing are “novel,” they don’t change the dynamics of deterrence. “The United States and its French and British NATO allies still retain strong nuclear triads to deter nuclear attack.”
TRUMP ‘MISINFORMED AND OUT OF TOUCH’: Nuclear explosions have been banned by the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, which was adopted in 1996. President Bill Clinton signed the treaty on behalf of the U.S., but it was never ratified by the Senate. In 2023, Russia revoked its ratification of the global nuclear test ban, but said it would resume tests of nuclear weapons only if the U.S. did first.
The treaty has been signed by 187 countries, but, according to the Washington-based Arms Control Association, the most important nations have declined to ratify it: China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel, Iran, Egypt, Russia, and the United States.
Russia last tested a nuclear weapon in 1990, the U.S. in 1992, and China in 1996.
In a series of posts on X, Daryl Kimball, the group’s executive director, called Trump’s pronouncement “incoherent,” calling for denuclearization talks one day; threatening nuclear tests the next. “Trump is misinformed and out of touch. The U.S. has no technical, military, or political reason to resume nuclear explosive testing for the first time since 1992. It would take at least 36 months to resume contained nuclear tests underground at the former test site in Nevada.”
“Trump’s post is not clear about whether he is talking about n-explosive testing (which the NNSA would do) or flight testing of n-capable missiles (which the DoD does),” Kimball wrote. “By foolishly announcing his intention to resume nuclear testing, Trump will trigger strong public opposition in Nevada, from all U.S. allies, and it could trigger a chain reaction of nuclear testing by U.S. adversaries, and blow apart the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Good Thursday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyre’s Daily on Defense, written and compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre (@jamiejmcintyre) and edited by Christopher Tremoglie. Email here with tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. Sign up or read current and back issues at DailyonDefense.com. If signing up doesn’t work, shoot us an email and we’ll add you to our list. And be sure to follow me on Threads and/or on X @jamiejmcintyre.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP OR READ BACK ISSUES OF DAILY ON DEFENSE
HAPPENING TODAY: U.S. CUTS FORCES ON NATO’S EASTERN FLANK: With little fanfare, Pete Hesgeth’s Pentagon is beginning the slow shift of U.S. forces away from NATO and toward protecting the homeland. In a press release, the U.S. Army Europe and Africa announced that roughly 700 soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division would be rotated out of Germany, Romania, and Poland, without replacements.
The statement said the troop reductions did not constitute “an American withdrawal from Europe or a signal of lessened commitment to NATO,” but rather a result of “increased European capability and responsibility,” and insisted the return of troops to their base in Kentucky “will not change the security environment in Europe.”
“The U.S. maintains a robust presence throughout the European Theater, and maintains the ability to array forces and capabilities to meet objectives in the Theater and support U.S. priorities, including President Trump’s commitment to defend NATO allies.”
“We strongly oppose the decision not to maintain the rotational U.S. brigade in Romania and the Pentagon’s process for its ongoing force posture review that may result in further drawdowns of U.S. forces from Eastern Europe,” Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) said in a joint press release.
“On March 19, we stated that we will not accept significant changes to our warfighting structure that are made without a rigorous interagency process, coordination with combatant commanders and the Joint Staff, and collaboration with Congress,” the Republican Armed Services Committee chairmen said. “Unfortunately, this appears to be exactly what is being attempted.”
“This decision also sends the wrong signal to Russia at the very moment President Trump is applying pressure to force Vladimir Putin to come to the table to achieve a lasting peace in Ukraine,” they said.
GOP ARMED SERVICES CHAIRMEN OPPOSE PENTAGON’S DECISION TO REDUCE US PRESENCE ON NATO’S EASTERN FLANK
THE HITS JUST KEEP ON COMING: The latest strike in the eastern Pacific Ocean brings to at least 61 the number of alleged drug runners who have been “terminated with extreme prejudice” in President Donald Trump’s declared war on Venezuelan and Colombian drug cartels since the beginning of September.
Hegseth announced what appears to be the 13th “lethal kinetic strike” on a small boat that was floating in international waters when the U.S. missile struck and set it ablaze.
“This vessel, like all the others, was known by our intelligence to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, was transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics,” Hegseth posted. “Four male narco-terrorists were aboard the vessel — and killed — during the strike.”
The latest strike comes after Trump told troops in Japan, “At long last, we’re finally waging war on the cartels. We’re waging war like they’ve never seen before.”
“We’re winning it already,” he said. “We’re knocking them out one by one, and very importantly, we’ve almost stopped completely the drugs coming in by sea, and now we’ll stop the drugs coming in by land.”
Democrats continue to question the legality and efficacy of the campaign. “We’re spending hundreds of millions of dollars. We now have close to a tenth of our worldwide naval assets in the Caribbean going after wooden boats without bored motors on them,” Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) said on CNN. “You know, this is a waste of taxpayer dollars. This can be done a lot more effectively and efficiently, and Congress needs to be substantially more involved.”
“And Donald Trump wants to get involved in regime change in Venezuela? That is the height of insanity,” Crow said. “Trump doesn’t see a problem that he doesn’t think he can bomb his way out of.”
US PREPARES FOR POSSIBLE EXPANSION FROM ANTI-SMUGGLING BOAT STRIKES TO TARGETS IN VENEZUELA
THE RUNDOWN:
Washington Examiner: Trump announces decrease on China tariffs after ‘amazing’ meeting with Xi
Washington Examiner: Trump announces China will resume purchases of ‘large, tremendous amounts of soybeans’
Washington Examiner: Trump meets Xi: Chinese leader praises president for peace efforts — hours after nuclear test bombshell
Washington Examiner: Trump gives South Korea approval to build nuclear submarine
Washington Examiner: ‘Chinese military companies’ massively ramped up lobbying during defense bill debates, spent nearly $8 million
Washington Examiner: Senate votes to undo Trump’s Canada tariffs, dealing second rebuke
Washington Examiner: Putin envoy believes ‘peace’ in Ukraine will come within a year despite botched US visit
Washington Examiner: GOP Armed Services chairmen oppose Pentagon’s decision to reduce US presence on NATO’s eastern flank
Washington Examiner: Tom Rogan Opinion: 101st Air Assault Division withdrawal from Romania doesn’t weaken NATO
Washington Examiner: Hegseth announces another drug vessel strike as Pacific campaign intensifies
Washington Examiner: Netanyahu says ceasefire is back on after Israeli strikes kill dozens in Gaza
Washington Examiner: Jeffries downplays dissension in the ranks over shutdown tactics
Washington Examiner: Tensions rise as Border Patrol moves in on ICE’s turf
Washington Post: A look at past nuclear weapons tests in Russia, China and the U.S.
Wall Street Journal: Pentagon Orders National Guard to Establish Quick Reaction Forces for Civil Unrest, Riots
Axios: White House Finds 11th-Hour Shutdown Workaround to Pay Troops—for Now
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Some Guard Troops Won’t Get Paid Until Shutdown Ends
Politico: Hegseth to Unveil Arms Sale Overhaul
AP: US determined to prevent the collapse of the Gaza ceasefire after overnight airstrikes
Breaking Defense: Trump: US to Share Nuclear Sub Tech with S. Korea, Build Boats in Philly
AP: Colorado says relocation of Space Command to Alabama is ‘punishment’ for mail-in voting
Defense News: China’s Military May Discard Its Rigid Command Structure, Report Warns
The War Zone: New Chinese Advanced Training Jet Breaks Cover
AP: China says it’s on track to land astronauts on the moon by 2030 ahead of space station mission
Task & Purpose: No Clear Winner in Military’s First ‘Drone Crucible’
AP: Neck-and-neck finish in Dutch election as Wilders’ far-right party and D66 tie
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Allvin Departs as Air Force Chief: How He Sees His Legacy
Defense One: Air Force’s 10-Year Fighter Jet Report Is Missing Key Details, Experts Say
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Northrop Teams With Startup, Hoping to Use AI to Design Spacecraft
DefenseScoop: A First Look at IBM’s New Large Language Model That’s Fine-Tuned for Defense Applications
Air & Space Forces Magazine: F-35s, F-16s Rapidly Deploy to Greenland for Exercise
Responsible Statecraft: Iraq faces first quiet election in decades. Don’t let that fool you.
Washington Post: Toma Kaine and Rand Paul: Why we’re forcing Senate votes on Trump’s tariffs
THE CALENDAR:
THURSDAY | OCTOBER 30
9:30 a.m. G-50 Dirksen — Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the nomination of Vice Adm. Richard Correll to be commander, U.S. Strategic Command. http://www.armed-services.senate.gov
10: 30 a.m. — Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies virtual discussion: “Middle East Security and Europe Role After the Gaza Plan,” with Sanam Vakil, adjunct professor, SAIS Europe; and Nathalie Tocci, professor of practice, Johns Hopkins SAIS Europe and director, Isituto Affari Internazionali https://sais.jhu.edu/campus-events?
11 a.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Hudson Institute discussion: “How Long Can Russia Weakening Economy Support Putin War on Ukraine?” with Volodymyr Lugovskyy, professor, Indiana University; Anders Aslund, adjunct professor, Georgetown University; and Thomas Duesterberg, Hudson senior fellow https://www.hudson.org/events/how-long-can-russias-weakening-economy-support-putins-war
4:30 p.m. 125 E St. NW — American Academy of Political and Social Science Daniel Patrick Moynihan Lecture: “Ukrainian Humanity: Rethinking How History Is Told,” with Ukraine Ambassador to the U.S. Olga Stefanishyna; Timothy Snyder, chair in modern European history at the University of Toronto; Angela Stent, professor emeritus of government and foreign service at Georgetown University and senior fellow, American Enterprise Institute; and Alexa Chopivsky, executive director, Women Foreign Policy Group https://2025moynihanlecture.rsvpify.com/
MONDAY | NOVEMBER 3
12:30 p.m. — Physicists Coalition for Nuclear Threat Reduction webinar: “U.S. Government Assessments of Nuclear War and Nuclear Terrorism Risks: Findings of a National Academies Study,” with Jenny Heimberg, study director, Committee on Risk Analysis Methods for Nuclear War and Nuclear Terrorism, and acting director, Committee on International Security and Arms Control, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; William Ostendorff, co-chair, Committee on Risk Analysis Methods for Nuclear War and Nuclear Terrorism, and former principal deputy administrator, U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration; M. Élisabeth Paté-Cornell, co-chair, Committee on Risk Analysis Methods for Nuclear War and Nuclear Terrorism, and Professor in the Department of Management Science and Engineering, Stanford University; and Zia Mian, Princeton University Program on Science and Global Security, and member, Steering Committee Physicists Coalition for Nuclear Threat Reduction https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register
