Jeffries says Trump nuclear tests would be 'massive breach' of international law

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Thursday hammered President Trump’s vow to reactivate America’s nuclear weapons testing, saying the move would be a clear violation of international law. 

"It appears the resumption of nuclear testing would be a massive breach of international treaties that have been in place for decades,” Jeffries told reporters in the Capitol. “And it's just another example of Donald Trump and Republican policies going too far [and] being divorced from reality.”

Trump on Wednesday boasted of America’s nuclear arsenal as the largest in the world, but he also expressed concerns that China is making gains and “will be even within 5 years.”

“Because of other countries ... testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis,” Trump posted on Truth Social, the social media company he owns, shortly before meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. 

“That process will begin immediately.”

The remarks were hailed by Trump’s Republican allies in Congress, who said it was a show of American strength designed to promote international peace. 

“The idea that he would make a public statement stating that he would want our nuclear arsenal to be fully prepared, it’s a deterrent, and that’s an important show of force for us,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Thursday during a press briefing in the Capitol.

Jeffries has a different view. He’s criticized Trump for focusing largely on international affairs over the last month — including two trips overseas to meet with foreign leaders — instead of centering his attention on the government shutdown, which is threatening to delay benefits for a host of assistance programs for low-income Americans in the coming days. 

Against that backdrop, Jeffries said, Trump’s promise to resume nuclear testing is evidence that “Donald Trump and Republicans are not focused on the main thing that the American people want us in the Congress to address.”

“Which is why, as Democrats, we're going to continue to relentlessly focus on driving down the high cost of living in this country, and fixing the health care system that Republicans have broken," Jeffries said.