Officials seek to dissuade Trump from nuclear weapons tests, CNN reports
Photo: Donald Trump, President of the United States (Getty Images)
Several US officials intend to dissuade President Donald Trump from pursuing the idea of conducting nuclear weapons tests, according to CNN.
Sources say senior Trump administration officials responsible for energy and nuclear policy plan to meet in the coming days with White House and National Security Council representatives. Their goal is to persuade President Donald Trump to abandon efforts to resume US nuclear weapons testing.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright, National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) chief Brendon Williams, and representatives of US national laboratories are expected to tell the White House they believe detonating warheads is unnecessary and could escalate geopolitical tensions.
One source also said they will be ready to tell the administration that "there will be no tests" involving the detonation of nuclear materials, and will push the White House to adopt a plan that involves no explosive testing at all.
Officials hope they can persuade Trump to back the NNSA’s approach. However, CNN notes that the US President retains the authority to order nuclear tests even if he disagrees with nuclear experts.
At the same time, Energy Department spokesperson Ben Dietderich denies that agency staff are trying to dissuade the administration from resuming tests.
"The Trump administration continues to explore all options as it moves to expand nuclear testing on an equal basis with other nations," Dietderich said in a statement.
The internal dispute stems from Trump’s October post ordering the Pentagon to begin nuclear weapons testing "in response to test programs conducted by other countries."
CNN also adds that the United States currently tests all components of its nuclear systems except the explosive nuclear material in warheads.
The last full-scale nuclear test in the US took place in 1992, and the practice was formally halted by President Bill Clinton in 1996.
Nuclear testing
A few days ago, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined what he called the key purpose of nuclear testing. He said Trump vowed to conduct tests to ensure the safety of the nuclear arsenal.
Rubio added that Washington has long been concerned about the pace of China’s nuclear buildup, calling it "the fastest military expansion in human history."
