Donald Trump and the nuclear codes

[avinash shahi]

IN A ritual out of sight of the cameras on Inauguration Day in
January, America’s “nuclear briefcase” will change hands and President
Donald Trump will receive a card, sometimes known as the “biscuit”.
The card, which identifies him as commander-in-chief, has on it the
nuclear codes that are used to authenticate an order to launch a
nuclear attack. At that point, should he wish, Mr Trump can launch any
or all of America’s 2,000 strategic nuclear missiles.

There are no constitutional restraints on his power to do so. Even if
all his advisers have counselled against it, as long it is clearly the
president giving the command, the order must be carried out. There are
no checks and balances in the system. Moreover, once the order is
given there is likely to be only a matter of minutes in which it could
be rescinded. Once the missiles are flying, they cannot be called back
or disarmed. Mr Trump, from what he has said, does not take this
responsibility lightly. Indeed, he has often stated that he believes
nuclear weapons to represent the greatest threat to humanity and that
he will not be trigger-happy, “like some people might think”. But in
common with his predecessors, he does not rule out their use.


Of greater concern would be how Mr Trump might behave in an escalating
confrontation if Russia were to rattle its nuclear sabre even more
loudly. It is possible that his apparent desire to be buddies with
Vladimir Putin might help defuse a dangerous situation. He is,
however, notoriously thin-skinned and unable to stop himself
responding to any perceived slight with vicious (verbal) attacks of
his own. He also revels in braggadocio and is known to be reluctant to
take advice. Marco Rubio, a rival for the Republican nomination,
questioned whether he had the temperament to be put in charge of the
nuclear codes. So did Hillary Clinton. They were right to do so. But
it is now Mr Trump, not them, who takes the biscuit.
http://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21709999-mr-trump-will-soon-control-americas-nuclear-codes-donald-trump-and-nuclear-codes
This article appeared in the Print Edition with the headline: A new
finger on the button




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Avinash Shahi
Doctoral student at Centre for Law and Governance JNU