Vice Admiral Richard Correll expected an easy Senate hearing to confirm him as the new head of America’s nuclear forces. But his plans collapsed after Donald Trump posted a shocking late-night message.
At 9:04 p.m., Trump said on social media that he had told the US military to “start testing our Nuclear Weapons.” He claimed the United States must not fall behind Russia and China.
The next morning, senators pressed Correll about Trump’s statement. The admiral, nominated to lead US Strategic Command, avoided direct answers. He said he would only give military advice if nuclear testing discussions began.
Lawmakers warned that restarting nuclear explosion tests could spark a dangerous global arms race. The US has avoided such tests since 1992, using computer simulations instead.
Experts believe Trump wanted to show strength before meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping. But critics say new tests would raise global tensions and help rival nations.
Senator Jacky Rosen vowed to block any plan to restart testing, saying her home state, Nevada, suffered enough from past nuclear blasts.
