President Donald Trump’s recent push to restart nuclear testing once again has reignited a debate that many thought was buried in the Cold War era.

Trump made his stance clear during a Sunday interview on CBS’s “60 Minutes,” defending his directive to the Department of War to resume nuclear weapons testing, as reported by the Daily Caller. This bombshell announcement came via a Truth Social post on Wednesday, just hours before his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a three-day Asia trip.

The timing of this declaration raised eyebrows, with CBS correspondent Norah O’Donnell pressing Trump on why testing is necessary. Trump’s response was blunt, pointing to the need to ensure the functionality of America’s vast nuclear arsenal, which he noted is larger than any other nation’s.

Testing as a Strategic Necessity

“Well, because you have to see how they work, you know, you do have to,” Trump insisted during the interview. His reasoning cuts to the core of national security, highlighting a pragmatic concern that a dormant arsenal might not deter adversaries if unproven.

Trump doubled down, pointing out that other powers like Russia and North Korea are actively testing their capabilities. If they’re playing the game, he argued, America can’t afford to sit on the sidelines with untested hardware.

This isn’t just posturing, as Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed Wednesday that Russia tested the Poseidon, a nuclear-powered torpedo capable of triggering radioactive tsunamis. That kind of threat demands a response, and Trump seems determined not to let the U.S. fall behind in readiness.

Global Powers and Hidden Agendas

Trump also took aim at the lack of transparency from nations like China and Russia, claiming, “Russia’s testing and China’s testing, but they don’t talk about it.” He contrasted this secrecy with America’s open society, where such actions inevitably become public discourse, often to our disadvantage.

The Pentagon’s 2022 warning about China’s accelerating nuclear program, projecting a stockpile growth to 1,500 warheads by 2035, adds weight to Trump’s concerns. Sitting idly by while others build and test could tip the balance of power in ways that no treaty can counter.

Chinese spokesperson Guo Jiakun urged the U.S. to adhere to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, a plea that rings hollow when China’s own ambitions seem unchecked by such agreements. Trump’s skepticism about trusting words over actions feels like a necessary caution in this high-stakes arena.

Challenging the Status Quo

The pushback from critics like O’Donnell, who argued that only North Korea is openly testing, misses the broader picture Trump painted. His assertion that other nations test covertly challenges the naive assumption that silence equals compliance.

Restarting U.S. testing, as Trump sees it, isn’t about saber-rattling but leveling a playing field skewed by others’ hidden moves. It’s a hard truth that peace often rests on the credible threat of strength, not just goodwill.

While some may recoil at the idea of nuclear tests resuming, the reality of global competition can’t be wished away. Trump’s focus on ensuring America’s arsenal isn’t just a dusty relic speaks to a duty to protect, even if the methods unsettle the faint-hearted.

A Call for Vigilance and Resolve

In the end, Trump’s directive forces a reckoning with uncomfortable questions about security in a world where adversaries don’t play by the same rules. His insistence on testing reflects a belief that deterrence isn’t a theory but a practice requiring constant validation.

The debate will no doubt rage on, with critics decrying the environmental and diplomatic fallout of such a move. Yet, when faced with weapons like Russia’s Poseidon or China’s growing stockpile, hoping for restraint from others seems a gamble too far.

Trump’s stand is a reminder that leadership sometimes means making the tough calls, even when they disrupt the illusion of a peaceful status quo. If testing ensures America’s shield remains unbroken, it might just be the price of sleeping soundly in an uncertain age.