What to Know
Has Donald Trump tried to “use nuclear codes” in the war between the United States and Iran? The hypothesis bounces around the web after statements by a former CIA official and the White House is forced to deny it.
It all started with the words of Larry Johnson, a former CIA member who, on April 20, intervened in the Judging Freedom podcast, the show hosted by Andrew Napolitano, former legal analyst for Fox News.
According to Johnson’s account, Trump allegedly tried to “use nuclear codes” during a heated meeting, which took place last Saturday, on the Middle East crisis.
Newsweek reconstructs the picture, also reporting the White House’s blunt denial which, through a spokesperson, “criticizes the spread” of the rumors. Johnson’s account, not supported by concrete evidence, refers to a heated confrontation between Trump and General Dan Caine, number 1 of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
According to Johnson, the exchange of words “apparently turned into a real argument” in which General Caine allegedly refused to authorize the use of the “so-called nuclear codes.”
As the only evidence, the podcast reportedly showed a video of Caine walking with his head down in the White House gardens.
Newsweek highlights that no independent confirmation has been found of this exchange. High-level meetings were indeed held on April 18 to discuss the expiration of the ceasefire with Iran, but no news outlet or government official has confirmed that nuclear launch authorization was ever invoked.
“Is it credible? I would need a couple of confirmations from reliable sources before I would even deign to answer that question,” North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis told Newsweek. “I just can’t. I can’t imagine it. Knowing the president, I just can’t imagine that it was ever a serious hypothesis.”
—
Adnkronos International, Rome; (TNS) || ©2026 GMC S.A.P.A. di G. P. Marra. Visit at adnkronos.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
