WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump's tweet Wednesday that America's nuclear arsenal is "now stronger and more powerful than ever before" is debatable. His claim of the credit is entirely unjustified.
While the U.S. has daunting nuclear power, the Pentagon's program has been beset with morale, training, discipline and resource problems. And the modernization effort that started under former President Barack Obama hasn't been altered by the Trump administration.
Trump ordered a new review of the U.S. nuclear posture, in an executive order in January. It said the review should ensure America's nuclear deterrent is robust, ready and tailored to address 21st century threats.
But the review isn't complete. There have been no significant changes in America's nuclear power as a result.
My first order as President was to renovate and modernize our nuclear arsenal. It is now far stronger and more powerful than ever before....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 9, 2017
...Hopefully we will never have to use this power, but there will never be a time that we are not the most powerful nation in the world!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 9, 2017
