A leading arms control organization is calling for President Obama to take US nuclear missiles off high alert before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office. The Ploughshares Fund has circulated a public petition urging President Obama to place restraints on the incoming president’s ability to launch a nuclear attack. Last week, President-elect Trump alarmed nuclear weapons experts when he raised the prospect of a new global arms race on Twitter. We speak to Joe Cirincione, president of Ploughshares Fund, which has circulated the petition urging President Obama to take US nuclear missiles off high alert.
TRANSCRIPT
This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
NERMEEN SHAIKH: A leading arms control organization is calling for President Obama to take US nuclear missiles off high alert before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office. The Ploughshares Fund has circulated a public petition urging President Obama to place restraints on the incoming president’s ability to launch a nuclear attack.
Last week, President-elect Trump alarmed nuclear weapons experts when he raised the prospect of a new global arms race on Twitter, saying he would increase the size of the US nuclear arsenal. Trump’s tweet read, quote, “The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes,” end-quote. The United States and Russia account for 93 percent of the world’s nuclear arsenal. Following Trump’s tweet, his spokesman, Sean Spicer, tried to clarify Trump’s position in an interview with CNN. He was speaking to Alisyn Camerota.
SEAN SPICER: He is going to do what it takes to protect this country. And if another country or countries want to threaten our safety or sovereignty, he’s going to do what it takes.
ALISYN CAMEROTA: Sure, but he’s not waiting until another country threatens us. He’s making these proclamations before it.
SEAN SPICER: He’s making it very clear — no, right, but he’s…