The combination of Donald Trump, Twitter and nuclear weapons seems to be enough to send chills down some people's spine.
President-elect Trump on Thursday tweeted out that he wants to "greatly strengthen and expand" America's nuclear arsenal, on the grounds that it would make the world "come to its senses" on reducing the number of nuclear weapons it produces.
The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump)1482425430.0
The timing of Trump's tweet is interesting because it came after Russia said this week that it was looking to strengthen its own nuclear capabilities to be able to penetrate missile defense shields.
Regardless, Trump tweeting about nuclear weapons was enough to set off panic across the internet -- some choice reactions to Trump's tweet follow below.
Trump is on the toilet tweeting about nuclear war https://t.co/qe4ioeVxFo— Slacks (@Slacks)1482425913.0
Donald Trump is repeating Nixon's Madman theory of nuclear deterrence but with an actual-ass madman in charge.— Eric Brown (@Eric Brown)1482425928.0
Looking at that Trump Nuclear Weapon tweet like https://t.co/PyqkxV0LlB— Dange Buckhouse (@Dange Buckhouse)1482425985.0
This makes no sense. It also doesn't make me feel any better that Trump won't start a nuclear war. We're all go… https://t.co/wTmem6KKt9— Ashley (@Ashley)1482426014.0
The anti-NATO #Trump wants to increase the nuclear arms race. Fucking moron. $spy #politicalrisk https://t.co/CIsqhPkyVO— echotoall (@echotoall)1482426072.0
On a more serious note, nuclear arms expert Joshua Pollack outlines why such a strategy is unlikely to reduce the total number of nuclear weapons in the world:
You can spend unlimited sums chasing nuclear primacy, but can't catch it. A tweetstorm in six parts: https://t.co/UG7jpwsfG0— Joshua H. Pollack (@Joshua H. Pollack)1482427679.0
This message implies that other countries - "the world" - have to be the adults when it comes to nuclear restraint. https://t.co/X5gLlYZYKE— Joshua H. Pollack (@Joshua H. Pollack)1482426458.0
But is there any doubt that Russia can keep up with America in nuclear numbers? This is one reason for bilateral arms control: to cap costs.— Joshua H. Pollack (@Joshua H. Pollack)1482426601.0
China, 1964: "Break the Nuclear Monopoly! Eliminate Nuclear Weapons!" https://t.co/RcfSckzWpM— Joshua H. Pollack (@Joshua H. Pollack)1482426765.0
This is a game that many sides can play. There is no last, winning move when it comes to arms-racing. (END)— Joshua H. Pollack (@Joshua H. Pollack)1482427214.0
