{"id":20038,"date":"2017-11-18T19:06:10","date_gmt":"2017-11-18T19:06:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2017\/11\/18\/stratcom-head-would-push-back-on-illegal-nuclear-launch-order\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:48:55","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:48:55","slug":"stratcom-head-would-push-back-on-illegal-nuclear-launch-order","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/newsletters\/2017\/11\/18\/stratcom-head-would-push-back-on-illegal-nuclear-launch-order\/","title":{"rendered":"Head of US nuke operations would push back on illegal launch order"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

HALIFAX, Canada \u2014 The head of U.S. Strategic Command on Saturday said he would refuse to execute an order from President Donald Trump to launch a nuclear weapon if he believed its use was illegal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gen. John Hyten, who oversees the operation of nuclear weapons, told participants at the Halifax International Security Forum that he and Trump have already had discussions about the nuclear decision-making process. Hyten would likely be the final person that Trump would talk to, should the president decide to move forward with a nuclear strike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think some people think we\u2019re stupid. But we\u2019re not stupid people. We think about these things a lot,\u201d Hyten said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe way the process works is simple. I provide advice to the president, he\u2019ll tell me what to do, and if it\u2019s illegal, guess what\u2019s going to happen?\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m going to say, \u2018Mr. President, that\u2019s illegal,\u2019 and guess what he\u2019s going to do? He\u2019s going to say, \u2018What would be legal?\u2019 And we\u2019ll come up with options of a mix of capabilities to respond to whatever the situation is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t