Donald Trump reportedly doubles down on nuclear expansion: 'Let it be an arms race'

Donald Trump doubles down on nuclear expansion to Morning Joe
(Image credit: Twitter/@MorningJoe)

President-elect Donald Trump sent out shockwaves on Thursday by tweeting that "the United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability," but spokesman Jason Miller later tried to temper the statement, explaining that "Trump was referring to the threat of nuclear proliferation and the critical need to prevent it," and maybe "the need to improve and modernize our deterrent capability." On Friday morning, in a phone call with Morning Joe's Mika Brzezinski, Trump reportedly clarified that, no, he really meant he's game to replay the Cold War.

"Let it be an arms race, we will outmatch them at every pass," Brzezinski quoted Trump as saying, "and outlast them all." "All right, you can put that down as breaking news," said co-host Joe Scarborough.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.