Donald Trump 'asked why US couldn't use nuclear weapons if he becomes president'

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Donald Trump asked a foreign policy expert three times why the United States couldn't use nuclear weapons if he becomes president, it has been claimed.

Mr Trump, the Republican nominee, was said to have posed the question during an hour-long briefing on foreign affairs, saying: "If we have nuclear weapons why can't we use them?"

The claim was made by Joe Scarborough, a former Republican congressman, and high profile political talk show host on US television.

Hope Hicks, Mr Trump's spokeswoman, denied that such a conversation about using nuclear weapons ever took place. She said: "There is no truth to this."

Mr Scarborough was a friend of Mr Trump's for a decade, used to enthusiastically support the billionaire, and was once mentioned as a possible running mate.

The two men fell out in May with Mr Scarborough saying the property mogul was "not the man I once knew".

He claimed the nuclear conversation took place several months ago, but he had only been informed of it by the foreign policy expert in recent days.

The allegation emerged as Mr Scarborough was interviewing Michael Hayden, who was Director of the CIA and the National Security Agency under President George W. Bush.

He asked Mr Hayden if any of his peers were advising Mr Trump on national security and foreign policy. Mr Hayden replied: "None."

Mr Scarborough then said: "I have to follow up on that...and I'll be very careful here.

"Several months ago a foreign policy expert, on an international level, went to advise Donald Trump, and three times he (Mr Trump) asked about the use of nuclear weapons.

"Three times he asked. At one point 'If we have them, why can't we use them?' He asked three times in an hour briefing 'Why can't we use nuclear weapons?'."

The former CIA Director said he was "very concerned" by how "erratic" Mr Trump seemed.

It was the latest controversy over Mr Trump's approach to nuclear weapons.

Previously, he suggested that countries including Japan, South Korea and Saudi Arabia should have their own.

He also refused to rule out deploying them against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and in Europe.

In March Mr Trump was asked where he got military advice and replied: "From the (television) shows."

He subsequently revealed a short list of advisers that left some senior Republicans underwhelmed.

It was not clear whether one of those advisers was involved in the alleged conversation about using nuclear weapons.

The row came amid speculation that Mr Trump's campaign was in turmoil and unraveling.

In recent days he caused widespread outrage by feuding with Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the parents of Captain Humayun Khan, a Muslim US soldier who died serving in Iraq.

He also enraged the leadership of his own party by failing to back the re-election bids of House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senator John McCain.

Reince Priebus, the chairman of the party, was said to be "furious" and to have asked Mr Trump's children to speak to him.

Paul Manafort, Mr Trump's campaign manager, publicly denied reports he was struggling to control the candidate.

The Trump campaign saw an increase in fundraising to $80 million in the month of July, only slightly less than his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

Mr Trump said: "There is great unity in my campaign, perhaps greater than ever before."

 

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