Trump Wants to Restart Nuclear Tests Near Las Vegas, Prompting Opposition

Nevada officials pledged to resist any attempts to resume nuclear testing in the state, near Las Vegas, arguing that such tests are unnecessary and could trigger a new arms race. Their remarks followed President Donald Trump’s statement, made just before his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, expressing his desire for an immediate return to nuclear testing.

Trump’s Vow to Restrain Nuclear Testing Near Las Vegas Sparks Political Backlash

“Because of other countries’ testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis,” President Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social website. “That process will begin immediately.” He also stated that the USA possesses more nuclear weapons than any other nation, with Russia ranking second and China a “distant third.” Trump also noted that the US has not carried out a nuclear test since 1992.

Perhaps it should not be surprising that opposition to the idea arose quickly. “Absolutely not,” Nevada Democratic US Rep. Dina Titus wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter), claiming she would be introducing legislation to put a stop to it. 

At an Armed Services Committee hearing, Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., warned that restarting nuclear testing would be “devastating and catastrophic.” She emphasized that she would do everything within her power, both as a senator and as a US citizen, to prevent it from happening and to protect Nevada families, declaring that it would not occur “on her watch.”

Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., whose district includes the Nevada National Security Site, stated that Nevada has already made significant contributions and sacrifices regarding nuclear weapons. He emphasized that restarting the nuclear testing program disregards the lasting impacts the state has already endured, noting that the issue affects every community in Nevada and is not a partisan matter. Horsford also argued that full-scale nuclear testing is unnecessary, as subcritical tests and computer modeling already provide reliable data.

Las Vegas’ History with Nuclear Tests

The Nevada National Security Site (known as the Nevada Test Site until 2010) is a US Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, approximately 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas. Covering roughly 1,350 square miles (3,500 km²) of desert and mountainous terrain, it contains around 1,100 buildings across 28 areas. These are linked by 400 miles (640 km) of paved roads, 300 miles (480 km) of unpaved roads, ten heliports, and two airstrips.

A January 1951 detonation was the first of many dozens of above-ground nuclear tests. These tests, observed by tourists from Las Vegas bars and hotels during “atomic viewing parties,” concluded with the signing of the Partial Test Ban Treaty in 1963. However, underground tests of nuclear bombs continued until 1992.

The numerous explosions left large areas of the Nevada site contaminated with radiation, with fallout exposure linked to higher rates of cancer and other serious illnesses among workers and nearby residents. Las Vegas also felt noticeable seismic impacts. Westerly winds often carried fallout from the atmospheric nuclear tests, contributing to increased cancer rates in Utah and other regions, according to a 1984 medical report.

Protests against the conducting of nuclear tests in the area aren’t anything new. According to government records, the site has been the location of 536 publicized and organized anti-nuclear protests, involving 37,488 participants, of whom 15,740 were arrested.