“I kept reminding him,” General Milley says, “depending on where and what you attack, you could find yourself at war.”
Later that day, General Milley spoke with President Nancy Pelosi, who was increasingly concerned that Mr. Trump would lash out and use military force.
“That’s bad, but who knows what he can do?” Mrs. Pelosi said. “She is OK. You know he’s crazy. He’s been crazy for a long time. So don’t say you don’t know what his mood is. “
“Madam President,” said General Milley, “I agree with you on everything.”
General Milley, who as the president’s top military adviser is not part of the chain of command, tried to reassure Ms. Pelosi that he could stop Mr. Trump.
“The only thing I can guarantee is that, as president of the joint chiefs of staff, I want him to know. I want you to know in the heart of you, I can assure you 110 percent that the military military power, whether nuclear or strike in any foreign country, we will not do anything illegal or crazy, ”he said.
“Well,” said Mrs. Pelosi, “what do you mean, illegal or mad?”
“I can give you my word,” General Milley said. “The best I can do is give you my word and I will avoid anything like that in the U.S. military.”
After speaking with Mrs. Pelosi, General Milley convened a meeting in a Pentagon war room with top army commanders, telling them he wanted to review long-standing procedures for launching a nuclear weapon. The general reminded the commanders that only the president could order this strike and that General Milley needed to participate directly.