Trump considering using nuclear weapon against Iran? White House reacts to buzz

Donald Trump's latest post threatening that "whole civilisation will end tonight" if Iran doesn't make a deal has brought back fears of a nuclear attack. The dire warning came after the US military on Tuesday attacked Kharg island, Iran's key oil hub, hours before Trump's deadline to strike a deal ends.

Shortly after Trump's post, US Vice President JD Vance doubled down on the threat and warned that US could use a "tool it has never used before." Social media was abuzz that Vance was referring to nuclear weapon, prompting the White House to issue a clarification.

Taking to Truth Social, Trump on Tuesday wrote, "A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don't want that to happen, but it probably will."

DID JD VANCE HINT AT NUKE USE?

Vance, during a press conference in Budapest on Tuesday evening, said US is hopeful of receiving a response from Iran before Trump's deadline ends. He further warned that Iran fails to make a "right decision", Trump could decide to use "tools" that haven't been used yet.

He said, "they've got to know we've got tools in our toolkit that we so far haven't decided to use. The president of the United States can decide to use them, and he will decide to use them if the Iranians don't change their course of conduct."

Earlier on Monday, Trump had said "the entire country could be taken out in one night", sparking fears that he is considering a nuclear attack.

TRUMP TO USE NUCLEAR WEAPON AGAINST IRAN?

"There are increasing fears within Trump’s current and former advisory circle that the President may consider ordering a nuclear strike on Iran," The Guardian reported on Tuesday.

British writer and journalist Owen Jones wrote on X, "Donald Trump is clearly threatening to use nuclear weapons against Iran. He needs to be removed as President to prevent a catastrophe that our species will never recover from," the post read.

YouTuber Keith Edwards wrote, "Trump is about to drop a nuke."
Another social media user wrote, "JD Vance threatened to use never been used weapons against Iran. Only Trump can authorise these weapons to be used. Could it be a tactical nuke?"

"Trump just threatened to nuke Iran: “The entire country could be taken out in one night, and that night could be tomorrow night.” The only way to take a country out in one night is with nukes," an X user wrote.

WHAT WHITE HOUSE SAID

The White House denied Tuesday that remarks by JD Vance about military operations in Iran had contained any suggestion of a US nuclear strike against the Islamic republic.

After Vance said US forces have tools they "so far haven't decided to use" to enforce a dramatic ultimatum from Trump, the White House said on X: "Literally nothing @VP said here 'implies' this, you absolute buffoons."

The White House's Rapid Response Force was replying to a post that read, "JD Vance doubles down on Trump’s new post threatening “a whole civilisation will die tonight” and implies Trump might use nuclear weapons."

CAN US PRESIDENT ORDER NUKE ATTACK?

Yes. In the US system, the President has the sole authority to order a nuclear strike. To initiate this, the President would convene a secure call with the National Military Command Center, usually involving senior officials such as the defence secretary and top military commanders, though the exact participants can vary depending on who is immediately available.

A military aide, always in close proximity to the President, would then open the "nuclear football," a briefcase that contains strike options and the codes needed to verify the president’s identity and authority.

The only potential check on this power is if individuals within the chain of command determine that the order is unlawful and refuse to carry it out.