What's the Deal with Trump's Nuclear Test Plan?

In a surprising move, President Donald Trump announced on social media that he had ordered the U. S. military to start testing nuclear weapons. This announcement came just hours before Vice Admiral Richard Correll was set to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee for his confirmation as the commander of America's nuclear forces. The timing and nature of Trump's statement left many in Washington and beyond puzzled and concerned. During the hearing, Correll faced a barrage of questions about Trump's comments. Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the committee, asked if resuming nuclear explosive testing would be destabilizing and trigger a global arms race. Correll, who was nominated by Trump in early September, carefully answered that his role, if confirmed, would be to provide military advice on any discussions regarding testing. The U. S. has maintained a moratorium on nuclear explosive testing since 1989, relying instead on advanced computer simulations to maintain the readiness of its arsenal. Experts argue that resuming testing would be disruptive and could provoke escalation from rival nations, evoking anxious memories of the Cold War. Many analysts believe Trump's announcement was a tactic to project strength and send a message to Moscow and Beijing. However, breaking the moratorium could benefit U. S. adversaries by allowing them to conduct more tests and catch up in nuclear research and weapons development. Senator Jacky Rosen, whose home state of Nevada was the site of U. S. nuclear tests from 1951 to 1992, vowed to prevent Trump from resuming testing. She stated, "I'm going to be crystal clear: I will not let this happen. Not on my watch. "