If Trump orders a nuclear strike, who will stop him?

[MineralMan]

17. So far, it hasn't been tested.

Nobody knows, really, how the military will react if a President orders a nuclear strike out of the blue. The CONUS is not in any way threatened at this time, so such a strike would not be in response to an attack on the CONUS.

I imagine such an order would create considerable consternation among the highest ranks of the military. No doubt, Hegseth would cheer such a command on, but how respected is he, really, by the top echelon of the General staff. Not very, I think.

Could they refuse to carry out such a strike? The answer to that is, I think, yes. They would do so, knowing that it would be career ending, of course. It's not impossible that someone would decide to make it impossible for the President to even give such an order, at least to give it twice. I just don't know.

Nobody knows. Nobody will discuss it, under any circumstances. It's not a topic of debate at the Pentagon. The question is always there, but it is not discussed. Ever.

So, we don't know, and won't unless some President gives such an order. Then, we may know. Or not.