Back to the Bomb? Trump’s Nuclear Testing Gamble and the Politics of Fear

Panos Kountouriotis

November 1, 2025

Introduction: A Statement That Shook the World

On October 30, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced from the Oval Office a decision unprecedented in 33 years:

"I have ordered the Pentagon to immediately begin preparations to resume nuclear testing in the United States. We will do this on par with other countries that are already doing it."

Within hours, the news made headlines worldwide. From the Nevada National Security Site to the Kremlin and Beijing, the international community faced a question long considered settled: Will the global moratorium on nuclear tests be broken?