Author Eric Schlosser: That "emotionally unstable" Donald Trump could end up with the nuclear codes is "like the plot out of a science-fiction film"

Schlosser explained that in the military, Trump "would be forbidden from working with nuclear weapons"

Published September 13, 2016 8:24PM (EDT)

Eric Schlosser, author of "Command and Control," in a Facebook Live interview with Salon's Andrew O'Hehir on Tuesday, warned of the dire possibility that the GOP presidential nominee could wind up with sole control of the United States' nuclear arsenal.

"I feel compelled to make a political remark," Schlosser said. "It's extraordinary that there's any possibility Donald Trump could be president of the United States and commander in chief and in charge of our nuclear arsenal. Under the law, the only person who's authorized to order the use of nuclear weapons is the president. And he or she is pretty much unrestricted about when he or she wants to use them."

Schlosser explained that people who work with nuclear weapons in any capacity must pass a personnel reliability program — "basically a personality test to see if you should be let anywhere near nuclear weapons."

"Donald Trump would fail that on every score," he continued. "He's a liar, he's got all kinds of personal business problems and debts, he's clearly emotionally unstable, and in the military he would be forbidden from working with nuclear weapons. And the notion of him being commander in chief, with the launch codes, capable of devastating cities and countries, is extraordinary. It's like the plot out of a science-fiction film."

Watch below:


By Brendan Gauthier

Brendan Gauthier is a freelance writer.

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