Trump Declares Nuclear Revival to Power AI Arms Race

By Moira Jones, Washington Bureau |World Media UK|US

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. President Donald Trump signed a sweeping set of executive orders aimed at reviving America’s decrepit nuclear energy sector. In remarks delivered alongside CEOs, energy executives, and defence officials, President Trump described the initiative as “a very big day for the nuclear industry” and a “tremendous turning point” for American energy independence and national security. “This is going to turn the clock back on over 50 years of overregulation,” said Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, “America led in all things nuclear after the Second World War, but we’ve choked the industry with red tape. That changes today.”

Mr Trump signed four executive orders designed to accelerate the licensing of both large-scale nuclear plants and the smaller, modular reactors (SMRs) critical to future energy infrastructure and to the Golden Dome. “We’re not just talking about nuclear as power,” he said. “We’re talking about nuclear as national security, and as the foundation of our ability to win the AI arms race with China.”

The adminisntration has been buzzing with the concept of data centers fueled by nucelar power and AI advanced compute and the President unveiled plans for the $175bn Golden Dome earlier this week.

“Electricity Becomes Intelligence”

The event was framed less as an energy policy announcement and more as a national security briefing. Officials from the Department of Defense underscored the strategic implications of SMRs on forward-deployed military bases and AI operations. “If we don’t have the energy to fuel AI, we don’t keep up with our adversaries,” said Pete Hegseth, speaking from the defence perspective. “Small modular nuclear is a game-changer.” Governor Burgum added, “What we do in the next five years with electricity will determine the next 50, because this is the first time in history where electricity is directly translatable into intelligence.” As an aside, the U.S. Power grid is acknowledged to be outdated and roughly 80% of the grid is subject to instability of various kinds. Constellation Energy CEO Joe Dominguez, representing the largest public nuclear operator in the U.S., called it a “historic shift,” noting that hyperscale AI firms were now backing nuclear projects as primary baseload sources. “We can’t run data centres 24/7 on intermittent resources,” he said. “Nuclear is the only answer.” Mr Trump interjected with characteristic flourish: “So you think it’s got a great future?” To which Mr Dominguez replied, “Absolutely. The big change is that the capital is here now—some of the largest tech firms are involved.”

Regulatory Reform and Industrial Return

Of the four executive orders signed, one focuses specifically on reforming the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), which was repeatedly criticised during the event as a bottleneck. Since 1978, only two new commercial reactors have been completed in the U.S., compared to 133 prior. “I’m spending $35 million just to prove to the NRC that a site we’ve run reactors on for 40 years is suitable for nuclear,” said Dominguez. “It’s absurd. We should be spending that on design and construction.”

The orders include a pilot programme to expedite the development of three new test reactors by July 2026, and another invoking the Defense Production Act to revitalise domestic uranium enrichment and ensure U.S. fuel security. Jake DeWitte, co-founder of nuclear startup Oklo, praised the moves: “We’re finally unlocking technology that’s been sitting on the shelves for decades. This brings it to market.”

Global Competition, Domestic Tensions

Though the focus remained on nuclear, Mr Trump soon pivoted to broader economic grievances—criticising the European Union, threatening Apple with a 25% tariff on iPhones not built domestically, and denouncing Harvard University for accepting foreign money while offering “remedial math.”

“The EU was formed to take advantage of the United States,” he said. “We’re not going to be taken advantage of any longer.” Asserting the importance of reshoring manufacturing, he said: “If they’re going to sell here, they’re going to build here. That’s the deal.” Despite the freewheeling tone of parts of the event, and a call on the president's cellphone ringing, which he twice rejected, the policy vision presented was clear: restore U.S. dominance in nuclear energy, accelerate AI infrastructure, and assert technological and industrial sovereignty in the face of rising Chinese and European competition.

“We’re going to be second to none,” Mr Trump declared. “It’s time for nuclear. And we’re going to do it very big.”