US Energy Secretary Wright, speaking on a Fox News program on November 2nd, addressed President Trump’s instruction to resume nuclear weapons testing, stating that the action would involve subcritical tests which do not trigger a nuclear explosion. Wright denied that the tests would be accompanied by an explosion, saying, “The tests we’re talking about right now are system tests, not nuclear explosions.”
Wright explained that the purpose of the measure is to develop high-end systems to improve the performance of America’s nuclear arsenal. When asked if residents near the Nevada Test Site in the western part of the state would see a mushroom cloud, he asserted, “No, no worries about that.”
Separately, in a CBS television interview that aired on November 2nd, Trump stated, “Other countries are testing, and the United States will do the same.” He also noted that he had discussed steps towards “denuclearization” with Russian President Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, both of whose countries possess large nuclear arsenals.
On October 30th, Trump suddenly announced that he had instructed the Department of Defense to begin work on testing, citing the need to be on “equal footing” with other countries advancing their nuclear programs. On October 31st, he further stated that the US “will conduct some kind of test.
