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GOP National Security Expert Freaks Out Over Trump and Nukes

Jeb Bush, Romney adviser floods Twitter with counterarguments

Donald Trump speaks to the 2016 Republican National Convention. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Donald Trump speaks to the 2016 Republican National Convention. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)

John Noonan, a former national security adviser to 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and 2016 GOP contender Jeb Bush, Wednesday, broke down the many reasons current party standard-bearer Donald Trump should not be allowed anywhere near the nuclear arsenal.  

MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough revealed that Trump had thrice asked during a high-level policy briefing several months ago why the U.S. couldn’t use nuclear weapons.  

“Three times he asked, at one point, if we had them, why can’t we use them,” the former lawmaker turned talk show host said during a discussion with former National Security Agency director Michael Hayden.  

The exchange sent Noonan into a 20-point Twitter rant that echoes some of the complaints voiced by a growing chorus of conservatives now vowing to support Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

His worst fears poured out in a series of cautionary missives about the fragile nature of nuclear deterrence.

The most terrifying thought: A capricious decision might one day ruin us all.

“Imagine having to turn launch keys not knowing if we were under attack or if it was [because a] foreign leader said a mean thing on Twitter,” he warned.  

Contact Rojas at

warrenrojas@rollcall.com

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@WARojas
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