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November 14, 2017 12:12 PM
First Time Since 1976 Foreign Relations Committee Has Looked at President’s Ability to Use Nuclear Weapons
During a Senate hearing reviewing the powers of the president to order a nuclear strike, Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) made clear what many Americans are thinking.
“We are concerned that the President of the United States is so unstable, is so volatile, has a decision-making process that is so quixotic, that he might order a nuclear weapons strike that is wildly out of step with U.S. national security interests.”
The hearing was called by the Republican Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee. Sen. Corker has become an outspoken critic of the president, although he says Tuesday’s hearing was not specific to President Trump.
Other Democrats offered concern as well:
.@SenatorShaheen: We are dealing with a president who has seemed unwilling to accept advice on many issues, and to act based on a Twitter post
— Stephen Young (@StephenUCS) November 14, 2017
.@SenatorCardin: Been getting more and more questions in Maryland town halls about whether Trump can launch a nuclear weapon without any checks or balances. #NoRedButton
— Alexandra Bell (@atomicbell) November 14, 2017
Two Republicans:
.@SenatorRisch: “At the end of the day, the president has the power to do it. And he will.”@SenBobCorker: “Yeah. That why we’re having this hearing.” #NoRedButton
— Meredith Horowski (@MereHorowski) November 14, 2017
Tuesday’s hearing marks the first time since 1976 since either the House or Senate Foreign Relations Committees have examined the president’s ability to use nuclear weapons.
Newsweek reports Princeton nuclear expert Bruce Blair tells them, “We all need to confront the fact that this system gives one person the God-like power to end the world.”
“For the first time since the height of the Cold War, the Republican-led Senate is raising the question of the president’s authority to launch nuclear weapons.” –@mitchellreports pic.twitter.com/DkP0ZbhXom
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) November 14, 2017