Trump told CBS that Pakistan and other powers may be conducting underground nuclear tests and signalled the U.S. may resume testing; transcript highlights, global reactions and official responses.
Trump Alleges Pakistan and China Secretly Conducting Nuclear Tests
President Donald Trump shocked global audiences in a CBS “60 Minutes” interview by alleging that countries including Pakistan, China and Russia have been conducting covert underground nuclear tests — saying “you feel a little bit of a vibration” when such tests occur. The comments came as Trump defended his decision to order U.S. preparations to resume weapons testing after a three-decade pause, arguing the United States should not be the only major power to refrain.
Trump said the tests happen “way underground” where “people don’t know what’s happening,” and suggested that secrecy and limited media freedom in some countries leave Washington uncertain about their activities. He framed the move to restart testing as a response to what he described as an evolving global reality, citing Russia, China and North Korea alongside Pakistan. Those assertions mark an unusually direct public accusation from a sitting U.S. president about another country’s nuclear activities.
U.S. and international experts cautioned that there is no public evidence that China or Pakistan have carried out recent full-scale nuclear detonations; both Russia and China have not acknowledged tests in decades. Still, Trump’s remarks have immediate diplomatic and security implications: allies and rivals alike will closely scrutinize U.S. intentions and any operational steps Washington may take on weapons testing. The White House statement and follow-up clarifications from administration officials will be watched for policy detail.
