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kentuck

(115,473 posts)
Tue Mar 31, 2026, 12:57 PM Mar 31

If Trump orders a nuclear strike, who will stop him?

Will the military follow his orders? From what we have seen, the answer is probably yes.

Will the Congress do anything to stop him. From what we have seen, the answer is probably no.

There is a madman driving the bus and we are all going along for the ride.

We know he is going to drive the bus over the cliff.

Because he is not a stable genius.

In fact, he may be the exact opposite, masquerading as someone that can "ace" a cognitive test.

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If Trump orders a nuclear strike, who will stop him? (Original Post) kentuck Mar 31 OP
Ordering a nuclear strike is a lawful order, isn't it? dem4decades Mar 31 #1
I doubt he's really in charge n/t leftstreet Mar 31 #2
I wish that were true Walleye Mar 31 #4
Oh, you know he's craving to do that. Walleye Mar 31 #3
But just a small one. kentuck Mar 31 #6
He understands zero about geopolitics and diplomacy. Walleye Mar 31 #7
We all know TSF wants to and will use nukes at some point... wcmagumba Mar 31 #5
Unfortunately, political leaders have done a lot to strengthen the executive branch David__77 Mar 31 #8
+1 leftstreet Mar 31 #9
Maybe the best question isn't "who will stop him?" Fiendish Thingy Mar 31 #10
Wasn't that Huckleberry??? IrishAfricanAmerican Mar 31 #12
Huh? Do you mean Mike Hucklebee? Fiendish Thingy Mar 31 #13
Let Israel use Israeli nukes. mr715 Mar 31 #14
I think Bibi would prefer Trump use his own Fiendish Thingy Mar 31 #15
I just think our nukes are spent on our hurricanes mr715 Mar 31 #16
He has likely never been taught the concept BlueKota Mar 31 #11
So far, it hasn't been tested. MineralMan Mar 31 #17
What is CONUS? mr715 Mar 31 #19
Continental United States. MineralMan Mar 31 #20
Oh. Duh. Okay mr715 Mar 31 #21
Military shortcut. MineralMan Mar 31 #22
THAT is the question. Kid Berwyn Mar 31 #18

dem4decades

(14,181 posts)
1. Ordering a nuclear strike is a lawful order, isn't it?
Tue Mar 31, 2026, 01:00 PM
Mar 31

Not a well thought out order, in fact it would be crazy but what would make it unlawful?

kentuck

(115,473 posts)
6. But just a small one.
Tue Mar 31, 2026, 01:02 PM
Mar 31

He doesn't want to drop the big one that might kill innocent people.

Walleye

(45,104 posts)
7. He understands zero about geopolitics and diplomacy.
Tue Mar 31, 2026, 01:05 PM
Mar 31

I pretty much expect him to do anything destructive that he can think of. He doesn’t understand the seriousness of nuclear weapons. And there’s no way to make him listen to that

David__77

(24,840 posts)
8. Unfortunately, political leaders have done a lot to strengthen the executive branch
Tue Mar 31, 2026, 01:09 PM
Mar 31

I expect if this occurred, the media in this country would do a lot of work to normalize it and emphasize an allegedly tactical nature, sort of like a super bunker buster. Given the slavishness they have demonstrated, I expect that so-called western countries would not do anything other than verbally protest: no sanctions, no suspension of military cooperation, etc..

Fiendish Thingy

(23,482 posts)
10. Maybe the best question isn't "who will stop him?"
Tue Mar 31, 2026, 01:16 PM
Mar 31

Perhaps the better question is “what’s stopping him now?” Or “what has stopped him so far?”

I mean, some republican has already suggested dropping a series of small tactical nukes to open up an alternate channel on the peninsula opposite the strait of Hormuz and Iran’s coastline.

I’m sure Bibi would support the US using nukes against Iran, so why hasn’t he?

Fiendish Thingy

(23,482 posts)
15. I think Bibi would prefer Trump use his own
Tue Mar 31, 2026, 02:15 PM
Mar 31

Just like he used $14 million dollar Tomahawk missiles to shoot down $20,000 dollar drones.

BlueKota

(5,442 posts)
11. He has likely never been taught the concept
Tue Mar 31, 2026, 01:25 PM
Mar 31

of mutually assured destruction. My .
European History professor discussed this back in the 1980s when Raygun and Gorbie were having their who could build the most nukes contest.

Tsf probably really thinks he is a "chosen one," who will somehow be magically sparred."

If the worst happens I want it to be like the Kenny Roger's line in the Gambler song: "And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep." I realize we all are going to die eventually, but I just would rather not be aware of how and when. Yes I am aware that I have no power over that either.

MineralMan

(151,430 posts)
17. So far, it hasn't been tested.
Tue Mar 31, 2026, 02:18 PM
Mar 31

Nobody knows, really, how the military will react if a President orders a nuclear strike out of the blue. The CONUS is not in any way threatened at this time, so such a strike would not be in response to an attack on the CONUS.

I imagine such an order would create considerable consternation among the highest ranks of the military. No doubt, Hegseth would cheer such a command on, but how respected is he, really, by the top echelon of the General staff. Not very, I think.

Could they refuse to carry out such a strike? The answer to that is, I think, yes. They would do so, knowing that it would be career ending, of course. It's not impossible that someone would decide to make it impossible for the President to even give such an order, at least to give it twice. I just don't know.

Nobody knows. Nobody will discuss it, under any circumstances. It's not a topic of debate at the Pentagon. The question is always there, but it is not discussed. Ever.

So, we don't know, and won't unless some President gives such an order. Then, we may know. Or not.

Kid Berwyn

(24,726 posts)
18. THAT is the question.
Tue Mar 31, 2026, 02:25 PM
Mar 31

Trump cashiered many, if not most all, of the Pentagon's lawyers with integrity in the first days of his new madministration. He fires those he disagrees with. And he has stated, quote: "I love the poorly educated."

Fucker has no clue. We as a planet may soon be S.O.L. And he IS an Unstable Moron.

Like Gen. Mike Kelly said, considering the moron's return to office, "God help us."

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