Did Trump Try to Use Nuclear Codes? No Evidence to Back Viral Claim
www.newsweek.com

... A viral claim alleging that President Donald Trump attempted to "use nuclear codes" during a heated Saturday night meeting on the Iran crisis is circulating across platforms, despite a lack of evidence. A White House spokesperson told Newsweek the claim was false and criticized its circulation. Newsweek has reached out to the Pentagon for comment.

The claim originates from comments made by former CIA officer Larry Johnson during an April 20 appearance on Judging Freedom, a podcast and YouTube talk show hosted by former Fox News legal analyst Andrew Napolitano. Johnson alleged that an emergency session at the White House turned confrontational when General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reportedly stood his ground against a presidential directive.

What Larry Johnson Said

According to Johnson, the exchange was "apparently quite a blowup," resulting in General Caine allegedly refusing to facilitate the use of "the so-called, nuclear codes." As evidence, the podcast featured footage of Caine walking on White House grounds with his head down. Later in the episode Napolitano shows footage of the general walking outside on the White House grounds with his head down.

However, Newsweek has found no independent corroboration of this exchange. While high-level meetings did take place on April 18 to discuss the expiration of the Iran ceasefire, no credible news organization or government official has verified that nuclear launch authority was ever invoked. ...