Can he do this?

[SupportSanity]

Let's say......

Trump gets into office

Time goes by

Russia and Korea declare war on USA ...

They say they have unstoppable nuclear missiles that USA can't stop which will destroy USA

They give limited timeframe for our response

Trump surrenders

Time goes by

We discover that this was the endgame all along.


Could this happen?
Unfortunately, this scenario has been on my mind way too much.

[Dennis Donovan]

1. Not without Congress n/t

[Mike 03]

2. Only if Trump creates a whole new doctrine for a U.S. response

to nuclear threats.

In your scenario, is a nuclear weapon actually detonated? Or is the threat enough to cause Trump to "surrender" the country?

I can't predict what Trump would do, but this would have happened under no previous president. I worry about many things, but TBH this scenario is not one of the things I'm worried about. But it's good to look at all the crazy things he might do from all angles.

Hardly a week has gone by since early 2022 that Putin has not implicitly threatened to use nuclear weapons against somebody.

You might want to read the book "Nuclear War" by Annie Jacobsen. It presents a scenario somewhat like you are proposing--an intentional nuclear strike against the U.S. by North Korea, how the U.S. would likely respond. This would all unfold in minutes.

It's not possible to "win" a nuclear conflict.

[SupportSanity]

8. I think that with Trump, EVERYTHING is a performance. Everything.

And this would be pre-planned with instructions from Putin on how to do it; what to say; when to say it; all scripted.

I think that just the *staged* threat of 2 nuclear nations ready to fire advanced nuclear missiles would seem real enough.

Limited time frame to respond.

His response *might* seem justified.

As far as Congress, it's (mostly) his Congress.

As far as impeachment, what did it stop the last two times? With *his* Congress.

Thanks for recommending "Nuclear War" by Annie Jacobsen

Agreed, yes, nuclear - we all lose. That's why it's always been a threat.

[SupportSanity]

16. I'm currently reading "Nuclear War" by Annie Jacobsen

Thanks for the recommendation.

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

3. As Commander in Chief of the military

Yes, he can order the military to stand down and surrender.

Any peace treaties would require Congressional approval.

But, Congress could attempt to block this by a swift impeachment and removal, the VP and Cabinet could attempt to remove him via the 25t Amendment, and depending on the situation, I could see parts of the military saying eff that.

[SupportSanity]

9. Having the military stand down would be a first step.

Swift impeachment - when it's *his* Congress - that's the part, for me, that's problematic. I don't see it.

And what would be Putin's move while the USA is .... trying to decide what to do?

I'd say that Putin would "show off"; make an example of something; some target;

[Mike 03]

4. Just mulling over your scenario

I might be more worried that following a threat by NK or R, Trump might launch a pre-emptive nuclear strike, which would immediately provoke a counterstrike, and probably another counterstrike by us. Russia would probably also try to take out most of Europe to avoid them responding. A pre-emptive strike by Trump is what General Mattis was so worried about, and what General Milley had to assure his Chinese counterparts would not happen when Trump was breaking down in 2020.

It is worrisome. Whenever we are talking about nukes it is scary as hell.

[SupportSanity]

10. All this is scary as hell. Yes. I hate to have to even think about it. But.... here we are.

With us soon to have an enemy controlling the USA.

I would think that Europe is already playing out this scenario.

Russia right next door.

They're probably more prepared than we are.

[Diraven]

5. I think it's more likely

He will pull us out of NATO and announce we're forming a new alliance with Russia and North Korea (though not with China which could be awkward), and then we'll all threaten to nuke the rest of the world if they don't give Trump whatever he wants.

[SupportSanity]

12. NATO has been a problem for him.

Annoucing a new alliance with Russia and North Korea I see as problematic, but not impossible.

Your scenario could be possible.

[stillcool]

6. he can't...but they can

do anything they want. Who knows what will emerge as a super-power. I've been thinking China, Iran, and Russia.

[SupportSanity]

13. BRICS nations and their own currency standards is a start.

As a super-power. All our enemies.

Something to think about.

[keithbvadu2]

7. Putting money into Trump was the best investment Putin ever made.

[SupportSanity]

14. Like winning the Russian lottery many times over.

When you have more than enough money, needing power is the next thing.

[WarGamer]

11. Ummm... I mean aliens can come and return the Tesla roadster whizzing past Saturn too...

But since there is no limit to fiction... sure it's possible.

[SupportSanity]

15. Just thinking about this scenario. Having Trump at the helm; And Trump, having learned from his 1st term,

Project 2025 as a roadmap

And his private phone calls with Putin...

SCOTUS

Congress

Half of America

All this has scared a lot of people, including me.

That's why I asked for opinions.