Claims have emerged that US President Donald Trump was blocked from accessing the nuclear codes that would have allowed him to launch a nuclear attack on Iran.
Reports have been swirling since Mr Trump waged war on Iran that he was considering the possible use of nuclear weapons.
However, weeks into the war, a consistent line appeared almost out of nowhere stating that Mr Trump was not considering the use of nuclear weapons and never was.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was the first to push the official line out, with Mr Trump soon following with mentions in his remarks and social media posts.
If the claims that Mr Trump was blocked from accessing the codes to launch a nuclear attack are true, he may have never had the option.
The wild, and currently unconfirmed, claim was made by retired CIA analyst Larry Johnson.
“One report coming out of that meeting at the White House is that Trump wanted to use the nuclear codes, and General Dan Caine stood up and said ‘No’,’ Mr Johnson told the Judging Freedom podcast on YouTube.
“He invoked his privilege as the head of the military, so to speak. It was apparently quite a blow-up. There are some very bizarre things going on in DC.”
The claim comes after another report emerged that Mr Trump had been blocked from the White House Situation Room after shouting for hours while two US airmen were missing in Iran and a daring rescue operation was carried out.
The US President has threatened to kill an “entire civilisation” as he attempts to swing big in negotiations with Iran, something that appears, for now, to have reaped little reward.
Iran is playing hardball with the US, not bending to Mr Trump’s demands. Mr Trump’s threats have so far not convinced.
On Tuesday, 24 hours before his latest 14-day ceasefire was set to expire, Mr Trump extended the ceasefire further, this time for an unspecified period of time.
“Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal,” Mr Trump announced on Truth Social.
“I have therefore directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, and will therefore extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other.”
It comes after Iran pulled out of talks with the US in Pakistan, so Mr Trump essentially saved himself from the diplomatic embarrassment of having his representatives arrive at talks without the other party.
Just 24 hours before extending the ceasefire, Mr Trump claimed the bombs were about to start dropping in Iran.
It’s a familiar rhetoric for the US President who had vowed to obliterate Iran’s power plants and bridges to send Iran back to the Stone Age, “where it belongs”, in his words.
Can someone stop the US President from launching nukes?
In short, no.
The US President has total and final power in the decision to launch a nuclear attack. However, those around the US President can do things to pressure them not to.
According to Congress: “The US President has sole authority to authorise the use of US nuclear weapons.”
“This authority is inherent in his constitutional role as Commander in Chief. The President can seek advice from his senior military leaders; those military leaders are then required to transmit and implement the orders authorising nuclear use if the President decides to employ nuclear weapons.”
A General could refuse to accept the US President’s request, barring him from access until someone stepped into the general’s position, or, an unlikely but possible scenario could arise where a US vice president could oust a sitting US President with cabinet support.
If the unverified claims are correct, General Caine may have created enough resistance for Mr Trump that he decided not to pursue accessing the codes.
It is unlikely that the Republican president would have wanted to be making the decision without any support from his inner circle.
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