ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE — As he flew toward his Palm Beach estate at Mar‑a‑Lago Friday morning, President Donald Trump fielded questions on a wide array of topics. Below are the areas he covered and the statements he made.
White House Video
Nuclear testing and deterrence:
When asked if the United States would resume underground nuclear weapon tests — something not done since 1992 — the President responded, “You’ll find out very soon,” declining to specify whether warhead detonations would be involved. He added: “We’re going to do some testing. Other countries do it. If they’re going to do it, we’re going to.” His commentary prompted confusion among defence officials, as the last known tests by Russia and China were in the 1990s and the U.S. has so far publicly limited itself to missile tests rather than warhead detonations.
Military preparedness and deterrence posture:
The President tied the testing conversation to broader remarks about credible deterrence. He reiterated that the U.S. must be prepared “on equal footing” with global adversaries, and that visible effort strengthens diplomacy. While he did not detail timelines or types of tests, he noted internal agency hesitation and a lack of public clarity.
Recent Asia trip and trade relations:
Trump touched briefly on his recent diplomatic swing through Asia, including discussions with Xi Jinping, noting the U.S. is “moving forward” on trade and supply-chain matters. One reporter asked about tariffs on Chinese goods, with the President saying “we are in a good place” and that he expects announcements “soon”. He did not provide detailed figures or a schedule.
Government shutdown and domestic politics:
While most of the focus was international or defence-oriented, Trump also answered a question about the ongoing federal government shutdown, urging Congress to act and hinting at a push to end the filibuster rule to expedite action. (Reporting indicates the shutdown is near a record duration.)
Flight conditions and the optics of the moment:
In a lighter moment, the President acknowledged reports of turbulence aboard the plane and joked with reporters that he expected to “look really bad on television” because of the bumpy ride — though he stressed he was fine.
What was not addressed in detail:
Although the President raised the testing question, he offered few specifics on when tests would begin, the scope, or how they would comply with global treaties such as the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (which the U.S. has signed but not ratified). He likewise gave limited information on the substance of the Asia trade agreements beyond general optimism.
As the aircraft descended toward West Palm Beach, Trump reassured that further details would be forthcoming and that the weekend at Mar-a-Lago would include briefings with his national-security team. For now, his remarks aboard Air Force One leave major policy shifts hanging in the balance and raise questions about the timing and transparency of U.S. nuclear-testing strategy.
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