Unverified Claim: Trump Sought Nuclear Codes in Iran Meeting
Unverified allegations have emerged that President Donald Trump sought to access nuclear codes during an emergency White House meeting amid escalating tensions with Iran, though no official confirmation or evidence has surfaced to support the claim.
The assertion originated from Larry Johnson, a retired CIA analyst, who described the incident during a podcast appearance on April 20. Johnson claimed that at the Saturday night meeting, Trump expressed intent to use the nuclear codes, prompting General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to intervene. "One report coming out of that meeting at the White House is that Trump wanted to use the nuclear codes, and General Dan Caine stood up and said no," Johnson stated. He described the exchange as a heated confrontation but provided no sources or further details on the alleged purpose. The White House, Pentagon, and Caine's office have not responded to requests for comment, and no credible reports have corroborated the account.
The claim surfaced against the backdrop of the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, which intensified on February 28 when U.S. and Israeli forces conducted joint strikes on key Iranian targets. Iran...