The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, told fellow Democrats there are procedures that prevent President Donald Trump from firing nuclear weapons, a senior US military official said.
Pelosi chaired a conference call today, Friday, with Democratic lawmakers on possible measures to be taken in the closing days of Trump’s presidency, including the possibility of impeachment. Democrats and many Republicans blame Trump for a mob storming the Capitol on Wednesday, and many say they fear a possible irrational act by the president, such as a nuclear attack.
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Pelosi said she had asked the Chief of Joint Chiefs of Staff, General, before the conference Mark Milley, whether there was some way to prevent Trump from launching a nuclear attack. According to a person familiar with the call, Milley replied that there are procedures that would prevent Trump from taking such a move.
The president is the only one empowered to order the launch of a nuclear weapon, but if a military commander, advised by his attorneys, determines that the order is illegal, he can refuse to comply.
It would be illegal to carry out a nuclear attack for no reason or as a disproportionate response to a military provocation.
The person described the call on condition of anonymity because participation in the conference call was limited to Democratic lawmakers.