Donald Trump to put nuclear bombers on 24-hour alert
CIA director says North Korea is ‘on the cusp’ of perfecting a nuclear weapon that could reach the US

Donald Trump is preparing to put US nuclear bombers on 24-hour alert for the first time since the end of the Cold War.
Air Force chief of staff General David Goldfein told Newsweek the move, which comes amid rising tension between North Korea and the US, as well as its neighbours, was “not planning for any specific event, but more for the reality of the global situation we find ourselves in”.
The costly policy of maintaining on-call nuclear-armed B-52s was scrapped by George HW Bush in 1991.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Yesterday, CIA director Mike Pompeo said North Korea was “on the cusp” of perfecting a nuclear weapon which could strike the US.
In a sign that Pyongyang is becoming increasingly isolated and desperate, North Korea’s Foreign Affairs Committee has written to a number of Western countries aiming to turn them against the US, says the Sydney Morning Herald.
The letter, described by Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop as “unprecedented”, announced the emergence of North Korea as a “fully fledged nuclear power” and urged “sharp vigilance” against the “heinous and reckless” Trump administration.
It also expressed “belief that the parliaments of different countries loving independence, peace and justice will fully discharge their due mission and duty in realising the desire of mankind for international justice and peace with sharp vigilance against the heinous and reckless moves of the Trump administration trying to drive the world into a horrible nuclear disaster”.
Bishop said the letter was a “desperate” attempt to divide the international community and proved that North Korea was feeling isolated.
Pyongyang’s frequent test-firing of missiles in contravention of international treaties has infuriated the US and ratcheted up global tensions. “Even China and Russia, both traditional allies of the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea], are believed to have become increasingly frustrated with the secretive country in recent months,” reports The Independent.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Laurence Leamer's 6 favorite books that took courage to write
Feature The author recommends works by George Orwell, Truman Capote and more
-
Today's political cartoons - May 7, 2025
Cartoons Wednesday's cartoons - film industry tariffs, self-deportation, and more
-
Weer at Soho Theatre Walthamstow: a 'silly, seductive, slapstick joy'
The Week Recommends Natalie Palamides' 'tear-inducingly funny' one-woman show opens London's newest venue
-
Another messaging app used by the White House is in hot water
The Explainer TeleMessage was seen being used by former National Security Adviser Mike Waltz
-
How does the Alien Enemies Act work?
Feature President Trump is using a long-dormant law to deport Venezuelans. How does it work?
-
Baby bonus: Can Trump boost the birth rate?
Feature The Trump administration is encouraging Americans to have more babies while also cutting funding for maternal and postpartum care
-
Hollywood confounded by Trump's film tariff idea
speed read President Trump proposed a '100% tariff' on movies 'produced in foreign lands'
-
Trump offers migrants $1,000 to 'self-deport'
speed read The Department of Homeland Security says undocumented immigrants can leave the US in a more 'dignified way'
-
Deportations ensnare migrant families, U.S. citizens
Feature Trump's deportation crackdown is sweeping up more than just immigrants as ICE targets citizens, judges and nursing mothers
-
Trump shrugs off warnings over trade war costs
Feature Trump's tariffs are spiraling the U.S. toward an economic crisis as shipments slow down—and China doesn't plan to back down
-
Harvard stares down Trump's tax threat as other schools take note
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Higher ed is on high alert as the nation's premier university prepares to take on the fight of its life