President Donald Trump has confirmed plans to resume U.S. nuclear testing while also weighing a potential F-35 fighter jet sale to Saudi Arabia and threatening legal action against the BBC. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump stated that the U.S. will restart nuclear testing “like other countries,” though he did not specify whether this would involve detonating a nuclear warhead.
The announcement follows Trump’s directive last month to immediately restart the U.S. nuclear weapons testing program after a 33-year hiatus. He initially revealed the plan via Truth Social while traveling to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea.
Regarding the F-35 deal, Trump confirmed that Saudi Arabia has requested a substantial number of the stealth fighter jets produced by Lockheed Martin. “They want to buy a lot of jets,” Trump said. “I’m looking at that. They want to buy a lot of ‘35’ – but actually more than that, fighter jets.”
The potential sale is expected to be discussed during a White House meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman next week, where economic and defense agreements may also be signed. Pentagon intelligence has raised concerns that the deal could risk China acquiring sensitive F-35 technology.
In addition, Trump addressed ongoing legal matters with the BBC, stating he plans to sue the British broadcaster next week. The dispute stems from a “Panorama” documentary aired ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, which spliced three portions of his January 6, 2021, speech in a way that implied he incited violence.
The BBC issued a personal apology and called the edit an “error of judgment” but denied any defamation claim. Trump’s lawyers had demanded a retraction, financial compensation, and an apology, threatening damages of up to $1 billion.
These developments underscore Trump’s focus on national defense, international arms agreements, and protecting his personal and political reputation, highlighting the breadth of his current domestic and foreign policy agenda.
