Donald Trump’s radioactive tweets about nukes are pushing planet towards World War Three, fear experts
They say revelations he wants to expand the US nuclear arsenal might lead to North Korea targeting Japan and South Korea
Donald Trump’s tweets about his hopes to “strengthen and expand” the nuclear capability of the US could spark World War Three, fear experts.
Arms-control experts say the rest of the world really should be worried about the potential fallout from some of the President elect’s most radioactive tweets.
Jeffrey Lewis, a nuclear expert at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, believes Trump should be banned from Twitter if America gets into an escalating crisis with a nuclear power like North Korea.
He told the that Kim Jong-un's rogue state could easily misinterpret his intentions and start firing off missiles at American allies in nearby Japan and South Korea.
“Imagine we’re in a crisis — if he recklessly tweets, people could read these things in the worst possible light,” Lewis said.
“The North Koreans have a plan to use nuclear weapons very early in a conflict. They’re not going to wait around. If they think we are going (to), they’re going to use nuclear weapons against South Korea and Japan.”
Bruce Blair, a nuclear policy expert at Princeton University, added Trump’s Twitter habits could easily escalate tensions.
“Almost any threat could be perceived as warranting some sort of response that’s not only rhetorical, but operational,” says Blair.
“Words and threats have consequences in the nuclear operations world, and can instigate a cycle of escalation that spins out of control.”
