The Trump campaign has responded to attempts by leftist media outlets to drum up fear that as President, the Donald could launch a preemptive nuclear attack on another country.
A barrage of stories poured forth from organisations such as Media Matters, Think Progress and The Huffington Post this morning after MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough said a source told him that Trump repeatedly asked an advisor why US stockpiles of nuclear weapons could not be used.
During an interview with retired General Michael Hayden, the former National Security Agency and CIA director, Scarborough asked what safe guards were currently in place to ensure “any president who may not be stable from launching a nuclear attack against another country.”
Watch: What are some major concerns about Trump's handling of national security? Hayden and #morningjoe weigh in. https://t.co/FyFoSmJlJI
— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) August 3, 2016
Scarborough explained that he was asking the question because he’d been told that during a one hour meeting, Trump three times asked an unidentified foreign policy expert about nukes some time in the last few months.
“If we have them, why can’t we use them?” Trump asked, according to Scarborough.
The Trump camp immediately responded to the allegations, with spokeswoman Hope Hicks issuing a statement saying “There is no truth to this.”
Speaking as if Trump was imminently about to launch nukes, Scarborough asked Hayden, “What is the time frame between his decision and when the nuclear weapons are launched?”
“Joe, it’s scenario dependent,” Hayden responded. “The system is designed for speed and decisiveness. It’s not designed to debate the decision.”
While Hayden refrained from suggesting Trump would use nukes, he did say that he believes a Trump presidency could trigger a “crisis in civil military relationships”.
“it may actually strain and test the fabric of our civilian military control.” Hayden stated.
“What happens within the armed forces when you have — when fear — perhaps these kinds of decisions — for a military that does defer to civilian leadership. What then happens?” the retired General asked.
“And when you’re the head of a global superpower — inconsistency, unpredictability, those are dangerous things. They may frighten your friends and they tempt your enemy. And so I would be very, very concerned.” Hayden added.
In previous months, Trump has broached the subject of nuclear weapons several times, suggesting he would not take the use of them off the table, then clarifying that it would be an absolute last resort.
Skeptical voters, believing the exchange to be an attempt to drive the day’s news cycle, took to social media to ask why Scarborough sat on the information for months if he was so worried about it.
He's had this info for THREE months… https://t.co/nFgvT9eIcF
— Kimberley Ramplin (@Kimbo_Ramplin) August 3, 2016
So this will drive the news cycle today. Initial Q: why is Scarborough only now reporting this from months ago? https://t.co/dB5relD7gW
— Dean Barker (@deanbarker) August 3, 2016
JESUS CHRIST JOE MAYBE YOU COULD'VE LET US KNOWN A LITTLE EARLIER ABOUT THAT NUKE THING https://t.co/5kJ1ulyEOq
— Jesse Berney (@jesseberney) August 3, 2016
Why are we just finding out about this, though? https://t.co/R7b4pKg5ye
— Czar Pharaoh Khan (@3CarryOnItems) August 3, 2016
1. Prop up Trump
2. Build YUGE oppo file on him
3. Turn on him after he's nominated
4. Profit, because viewers are idiots#HowToMorningJoe— Kyle Foley (@KFoleyFL) August 3, 2016
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Steve Watson is the London based writer and editor for Alex Jones’ Infowars.com, and Prisonplanet.com
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