The top US defence officer has said an order from President Donald Trump or any of his successors to launch nuclear weapons can be refused if that order is determined to be illegal. The top US defence officer has said an order from President Donald Trump or any of his successors to launch nuclear weapons can be refused if that order is determined to be illegal. Nuclear launch order can be refused, says US generalAir Force General John Hyten, commander of US Strategic Command, told a panel at the Halifax International Security Forum that he and Mr Trump have had conversations about such a scenario and that he would tell Mr Trump he could not carry out an illegal strike. In the event that Mr Trump decided to launch a nuclear attack, Gen Hyten would provide him with strike options that are legal. He said he would not obey an illegal order.

Source: Irish Independent November 19, 2017 04:18 UTC