Days after calling for a trade truce with Beijing, U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited global debate with remarks on nuclear power and national security, claiming that the United States possesses “enough nuclear weapons to blow up the world 150 times.” Speaking to CBS News, Trump acknowledged that Washington remains a major threat to China, even as both nations continue to engage in tense strategic competition.
“We’re a threat to them too,” Trump said, referencing ongoing U.S.–China surveillance and cyber operations. “This is a very competitive world. We’re always watching them, and they’re always watching us. I believe we can be bigger, better, and stronger by working with them rather than knocking them out.”
The comments came amid accusations by U.S. intelligence agencies that China has infiltrated parts of America’s power grid and water systems, and is involved in intellectual property theft and large-scale data breaches targeting U.S. citizens.
Turning to nuclear weapons, Trump warned that China is rapidly expanding its arsenal, calling for global “denuclearisation.” “We have more nuclear weapons than any other country. Russia’s second. China’s a distant third, but they’ll be even in five years—they’re making them fast,” he said. “We should do something about denuclearisation.”
Trump revealed that he had discussed the issue with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, emphasizing that the world’s leading powers must address the growing nuclear imbalance. He also defended his recent decision to restart U.S. nuclear testing, arguing that rival nations are already doing so covertly. “They test underground where no one knows what’s happening,” Trump said. “We have to test, too.”
The president also commented on China’s dominance in rare earth minerals, which are vital for manufacturing electronics and military equipment. “They’ve been accumulating and protecting those resources for 30 years. That’s their power. But we’ve used other leverage—like restricting airplane parts. They have hundreds of Boeing aircraft. We both acted a little irrationally, but tariffs were our big weapon.”
The remarks follow Trump’s meeting with Chinese officials during the 32nd APEC Economic Ministers’ Meeting in South Korea, marking the first in-person U.S.–China engagement at that level in more than six years.
Meanwhile, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright clarified that the administration’s upcoming nuclear tests will not involve active detonations, but rather “non-critical system tests” designed to ensure reliability and safety of future weapons. “These tests focus on all the other parts of a nuclear weapon,” Wright explained, “to make sure they deliver the right geometry and setup before detonation.”
Trump’s fiery comments underscore rising global tensions over nuclear deterrence, as Washington, Moscow, and Beijing navigate a new era of strategic competition and arms modernization—each watching the other more closely than ever.