- President Trump pledges a massive push into nuclear energy at Davos.
- He promises tech companies a three-week approval for building nuclear plants.
- The announcement caused an immediate surge in nuclear-related stocks.
- The plan aims to solve AI's soaring electricity demand and ensure grid reliability.
- It sharply contrasts with European green policies, which he criticized heavily.
A bold promise from President Donald Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos has sent shockwaves through the energy sector and Wall Street. Declaring "We're going heavy into nuclear," Trump not only endorsed a technology he once distrusted but also pledged to slash regulatory timelines to a mere three weeks for tech companies seeking to build their own power plants. This announcement immediately fueled a premarket surge in nuclear-related stocks, signaling a potential sea change for an industry long stifled by fear, cheap natural gas, and regulatory burdens.
The U.S. nuclear industry has endured decades of atrophy. Fears stemming from past disasters, competition from abundant natural gas, and relentless legal challenges from environmental activists have stalled development. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and the current administration are now applying unprecedented support to reverse this decline, adopting an "all hands on deck" approach. The government has identified critical deficits across the entire nuclear supply chain, from domestic uranium mining and enrichment to advanced reactor manufacturing.
This comprehensive push includes hundreds of billions of dollars predesignated for reactor development, drawing from both domestic funds and foreign partnerships with allies like Japan and South Korea. Support manifests in high-speed licensing pathways, awards for enrichment projects, and even exploring novel applications like nuclear power for space colonization. The Department of Justice has further bolstered the sector by granting antitrust immunity to companies working to revitalize domestic nuclear fuel capabilities.
Market reacts with force
The market's reaction to Trump's comments was swift and decisive. Stocks across the nuclear fuel chain and reactor development sector spiked in premarket trading. This enthusiasm builds on a massive rally for much of last year, which saw the Global X Uranium ETF surge 200% between April and October 2025 before undergoing a significant correction. Analysts now see technical signals suggesting the next leg of the rally is ahead.
Specific companies are poised to benefit. Cameco, a global uranium producer, has seen its stock rise 126% over the past year and started 2026 strongly. Technical analysis suggests it could reach $142 per share in the second half of the year. Constellation Energy, the largest U.S. nuclear power producer, presents a potential opportunity after recent declines, with a path toward $480 by year-end, a 56% gain. BWX Technologies, a key nuclear industry supplier, is already up 26% this year and could target $273.
A radical proposal for AI's power hunger
The most striking part of Trump's Davos speech was a direct pitch to the tech industry. Framing a strained electrical grid as an existential threat to growth and national security, particularly with artificial intelligence driving electricity demand to record highs, Trump offered a radical solution. "You people are brilliant. You have a lot of money. You can build your own electric generating plants," he told tech executives, promising federal approvals in just three weeks for nuclear projects and two weeks for oil and gas plants.
This proposal marks a dramatic departure from the traditional Nuclear Regulatory Commission process, which historically takes years for environmental reviews, design approvals, and site selection. While new small modular reactor designs aim for shorter timelines, a three-week approval would trigger widespread concerns about safety and environmental oversight. Trump justified his newfound support by citing technological progress, stating, "The progress they've made is unbelievable and the safety progress they've made is incredible."
Contrasting visions of energy future
Trump used the platform to draw a sharp contrast with European energy policies, which he criticized heavily. He mocked the "Green New Scam," citing soaring electricity prices in Germany and labeling wind farms "losers" that "kill the birds." He also touted a new energy alliance with Venezuela, predicting it would help drive U.S. gasoline prices toward $2 per gallon, a target not yet met with the current national average at $2.76.
This aggressive nuclear push unfolds against a backdrop where the administration views green energy as failing to live up to its promises. The push for a nuclear renaissance is framed not just as an economic imperative, but as a necessary foundation for technological supremacy and grid reliability in the AI age.
The promise of a nuclear revival, backed by staggering financial support and unprecedented regulatory speed, is now officially central to the administration's economic and energy agenda. While markets cheer, the coming months will test whether this vision can overcome the profound technical, logistical, and safety challenges that have constrained nuclear power for generations. There is so much at stake for America's energy independence and its competitive edge in the defining technological race of the decade.
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