POLITICO Energy Can Trump help the US reclaim leadership in nuclear energy?
Nov 3, 2025
Francisco "AJ" Camacho, a reporter for POLITICO's E&E News, dives into the Trump administration's efforts to reposition the U.S. as a leader in nuclear technology. He discusses why nuclear energy is central to U.S. policy, the factors that led to its decline against rivals like Russia and China, and how state support gives these nations an advantage. AJ also highlights the markers to watch for in determining if the U.S. is regaining market share, including new builds and the potential of small modular reactors.
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Nuclear Power As An Energy Dominance Tool
- Nuclear power is prioritized by the Trump administration for energy dominance and high reliability.
- The administration used executive orders and DOE pilot programs to accelerate reactor development and supplies.
How The U.S. Lost Ground
- The U.S. fell behind because it stopped building and privatized much of its nuclear industry.
- Companies folded and lacked state backing that competitors like Russia used to expand globally.
State Support Buys Global Market Share
- State-backed firms like Rosatom can offer cheaper, turnkey reactors subsidized by their governments.
- Buyers accept low effort and ownership models, making Russia and China attractive to novice nuclear states.