Top US nuclear commander would resist ‘illegal’ launch of nuclear weapons

Air Force General John Hyten says he would give an order by Trump to launch nuclear weapons lots of thought

US Air Force General John Hyten (Source: Reuters)
US Air Force General John Hyten (Source: Reuters)

The most senior US  nuclear commander said on Saturday that he would pose resistance to an ‘illegal’ order by President Donald Trump for the launch of nuclear weapons.

Air Force General John Hyten, said, during a visit to Canada, that he would have to think very seriously about how he would act if faced with such an order.

“We’re not stupid people,” he said, “We think about these things a lot. When you have this responsibility, how do you not think about it?”

He explained that he would tell the president if something which he ordered was illegal, and they would then come up with options to respond to he situation legally.

The comments came after US senators questioned what authority Trump had to go to war, use nuclear weapons and enter into or terminate international agreements, as tensions over North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs grows.