Tag: nuclear codes

Top nuclear commander: I wouldn’t carry out an ‘illegal’ nuclear strike order from Trump

The following article by Jacqueline Thomsen was posted on the Hill website November 18, 2017:

The top nuclear commander in the U.S. said Saturday he would refuse an order to conduct a nuclear strike from President Trump if he thought the launch was illegal.

Air Force Gen. John Hyten, commander of U.S. Strategic Command, said at the Halifax International Security Forum in Halifax, Nova Scotia, that he would tell Trump he couldn’t carry out an illegal strike, CBS News reported.

“And if it’s illegal, guess what’s going to happen? I’m going to say, ‘Mr. President, that’s illegal.’ And guess what he’s going to do? He’s going to say, ‘What would be legal?’ ” Hyten said. Continue reading “Top nuclear commander: I wouldn’t carry out an ‘illegal’ nuclear strike order from Trump”

Donald Trump’s access to nuclear codes is ‘pretty damn scary’

The following article by Julian Borger was posted on the Irish Times website August 23, 2017:

Obama-era intelligence chief James Clapper questions US president’s ‘fitness for office’ after Phoenix speech

Former US director of national intelligence James Clapper (centre) has joined a growing chorus of alarm over president Trump’s erratic behaviour. Photograph: JimLo Scalzo

Donald Trump’s access to the nuclear codes is “pretty damn scary”, a former US intelligence chief has said, calling Trump’s rally in Arizona on Tuesday night “disturbing”.

James Clapper, director of national intelligence for seven years under Barack Obama, questioned the US president’s “fitness to be in this office” after his demagogic performance in Phoenix, and expressed anxiety about Trump’s power to launch nuclear weapons without consulting Congress or any other official.

Once a president has verified his identity with a code kept constantly on his person or nearby, the military chain of command has no power to block his launch orders. Continue reading “Donald Trump’s access to nuclear codes is ‘pretty damn scary’”