House Dem calls for bill to restrict Trump’s ability to launch preemptive nukes

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) called on Wednesday for lawmakers to pass a measure barring President Trump from launching a preemptive nuclear strike on North Korea without congressional approval.

Congress needs to pass this Monday — on the first day of votes in 2018 — legislation restricting Trump’s ability to launch a preemptive nuclear strike without authorization. https://t.co/8B0AlmSgnu

— Rep. Ro Khanna (@RepRoKhanna) January 3, 2018

Khanna’s comments followed Trump’s claim on Tuesday that the U.S. has a “much bigger” and “more powerful” nuclear arsenal than that of North Korea, after that country’s leader, Kim Jong Un, said that he has a nuclear launch button on the desk in his office.

North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the “Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.” Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018

Another House Democrat, Rep. Eric Swalwell (Calif.), similarly called on Tuesday for lawmakers to have a say in whether Trump launches a preemptive nuclear strike on North Korea. 

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Democrats in both the House and the Senate have introduced legislation that would curb the president’s ability to conduct such a strike without getting an OK from lawmakers. 

Trump has repeatedly threatened the possibility of military action against North Korea, which has made strides in its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs over the past year. Reports on Tuesday indicated that Pyongyang may be preparing for another missile test.

In a New Year’s Day speech this week, Kim said that the international community would have to accept as a “reality” that North Korea is a nuclear-armed state capable of striking the U.S.

Trump’s tweet about the U.S. nuclear arsenal on Tuesday evening, however, appeared to dismiss that assertion, raising once against the possibility of a confrontation with North Korea.