California Governor Newsom Criticizes Trump's Planned Nuclear Weapons Testing

California Governor Gavin Newsom sharply criticized President Donald Trump's announcement to resume nuclear weapons testing, calling it an act of weakness masquerading as strength and labeling it embarrassing. Newsom pointed out that Trump incorrectly directed the Defense Department to conduct the tests, which actually fall under the Department of Energy's jurisdiction, highlighting Trump's apparent lack of understanding of his administration's agencies. He compared Trump's behavior to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's, suggesting the move was performative and an attempt to project toughness ahead of diplomatic engagements, including meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Despite Trump's claim that the U.S. must test its nuclear arsenal to maintain superiority over Russia and China, experts and officials expressed concern about the potential risks and costs associated with restarting testing. Vice President JD Vance supported testing to ensure the arsenal's functionality, while Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth indicated coordination between the Defense and Energy Departments. Newsom also criticized Trump's handling of the China meeting, describing it as humiliating and indicative of overcompensation rather than genuine strength.