If you thought the chaotic and often erratic Trump era was a source of amusement, a recent revelation may give you chills. According to Miles Taylor, a former official from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) who worked under Trump’s administration, the 45th president’s loose-cannon comments about nuclear warfare triggered a flurry of behind-the-scenes meetings among concerned officials.
Taylor is no stranger to criticizing Trump’s tactics. Remember the mysterious “Anonymous” who penned a scathing New York Times op-ed about a secret alliance within the Trump administration aimed at keeping the president’s more dangerous impulses in check? That was Taylor. His forthcoming book, “Blowback: A Warning to Save Democracy from the Next Trump,” delves deeper into this shocking aspect of the former administration’s inner workings.
Apparently, the White House was often a hotbed of discussions revolving around Trump’s provocative comments about nuclear war, and his casual threats aimed at other world leaders. In the realm of national security, the use of nuclear weapons is a matter of utmost sensitivity, carefully choreographed and delicately communicated. With Trump, however, there was no telling what would be said next.
Taylor’s account paints a worrying picture. He recalls how Trump’s reckless threats towards North Korea, promising “fire, fury, and power the likes of which this world has never seen before,” sent chills down the spines of officials, almost suggesting an open invitation to nuclear conflict.
Secretary of Defense at the time, James Mattis, had even advised the staff to prepare as though they were on the brink of war, prompted by the president’s bellicose rhetoric. The seriousness of this situation led to an unprecedented step of convening “every top leader” in the DHS to discuss the impending crisis.
Taylor’s book describes grim briefings where experts outlined the terrifying scenarios of a nuclear strike on the U.S. homeland, dusting off response plans and presenting the best-case outcomes that were nothing short of horrifying.
Chris Krebs, a contemporary of Taylor’s at the DHS, and Olivia Troye, a former DHS advisor to Vice President Mike Pence, have confirmed the existence of these ominous meetings.
Glenn Kirschner, a former federal prosecutor, believes that Taylor’s book may pique the interest of Department of Justice (DOJ) special counsel Jack Smith. Smith recently slapped Trump with a 37-count indictment relating to mishandling sensitive government documents. Kirschner suggests Taylor should be subpoenaed to testify about his insider knowledge of the Trump White House.
In 2020, Taylor, the self-proclaimed “part of the resistance” within the Trump White House, criticized Trump’s inhumane comments regarding migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border.
The allegations put forth by Taylor shed light on the terrifying reality that unfolded behind the closed doors of the White House. The potential for a president’s unchecked and rash rhetoric to possibly incite a nuclear conflict serves as a stark reminder of the importance of temperance, caution, and thoughtfulness in leadership.
