CIA Director and Senate Intel Chairman Back Trump’s Claim: Russia and China Conducting Secret Nuclear Tests

President Donald Trump’s explosive claim that Russia and China are quietly testing nuclear weapons has now been confirmed by CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton.

“@realDonaldTrump is right,” Ratcliffe posted on X, citing intelligence assessments that date back to Trump’s first term, which indicate both adversarial nations are not observing the global moratorium on nuclear explosive testing.

Cotton elaborated, saying he had consulted directly with Ratcliffe and his intelligence team. “They have confirmed to me that the CIA assesses that both Russia and China have conducted super-critical nuclear weapons tests in excess of the U.S. zero-yield standard,” he wrote. “These tests are not historic and are part of their nuclear modernization programs.”

The validation of Trump’s concerns comes just days after the president announced that the U.S. would resume nuclear testing for the first time in over 30 years, citing a need to respond proportionately to what other world powers are doing behind closed doors.

“Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis,” Trump declared last week on Truth Social. “That process will begin immediately.”

During a Sunday appearance on 60 Minutes, Trump elaborated further. “The testing is because Russia announced that they were doing a test. If you notice, North Korea is testing constantly. Other countries are testing. We’re the only country that doesn’t test,” he told CBS’s Norah O’Donnell.

When challenged on the specifics, Trump didn’t budge: “Russia is testing nuclear weapons, and China is testing them too, you just don’t know about it.”

The United States has observed a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear testing since 1992, with its last underground nuclear detonation taking place at the Nevada Test Site. Trump has not yet detailed whether the resumed testing will take place underground, above ground, or what the specific timeline will be.

But one thing is now clear: Trump’s warning that America was falling behind in the nuclear arms race has officially been validated at the highest levels of the intelligence community.