Tucker Carlson says Trump should be removed ‘immediately’ if he considers using nukes first

WASHINGTON, DC: Tucker Carlson said on Friday, Aug 28, that if President Donald Trump is seriously thinking about launching nuclear weapons first, he should be removed from office right away.

Carlson called that decision a "red line" no president should ever cross. He made these remarks during a long conversation with Joe Kent on ‘The Tucker Carlson Show.’ Kent, who used to lead the National Counterterrorism Center, stepped down earlier this year over the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.

Tucker Carlson questions why no removal effort is underway

Carlson started by pointing out he’d always been “strongly opposed” to the previous attempts to impeach Trump.

He called them “absurd” and said he values political stability; leaders get elected, they should finish out their terms. Still, he sees the idea of using nuclear weapons first as crossing a line that’s on a whole other level.

"The second any president actively considers first use of nuclear weapons, that person should be removed from office immediately," Carlson said, adding, "That's got to be the red line, destroying all of humanity with a nuclear strike."

Carlson went on to question why no formal effort to remove Trump from office was already in motion, asking, "Why isn't there an attempt to remove him from office, like, immediately?"

He argued that any leader who suggests the first use of nuclear weapons "has forfeited his right to lead". He said anyone who would tolerate similar talk from a president's subordinates would be "by definition unfit."

Carlson spoke after delivering a broader warning: the United States edges closer to the danger of nuclear conflict. He highlighted internal Pentagon talks about expanding the use of tactical nuclear weapons and giving the president more choices for limited nuclear strikes.

Earlier this month, Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby previewed this thinking at a US Strategic Command conference. Colby explained that officials want to ensure the president and defense secretary have real options, not just theoretical plans, if they face a nuclear threat.

Context and reaction

Carlson linked his remarks to Trump’s threats of “total destruction” against Iran, pointing out that this kind of language hints at nuclear weapons simply because of the sheer level of destruction involved.

The White House hasn’t responded yet to questions about what Carlson said. Even though Carlson has backed Trump for years, lately he’s slammed the administration’s approach to the Iran conflict.

Despite parting ways with the White House on some big issues, Carlson still has a huge following in conservative media.