Does a senior U.S. general distrust the president?

About exactly ten days ago, Air Force General John Hyten, the commander of the U.S. Strategic Command and top nuclear commander of the nation, made some pretty stark statements that would pique the ears of even a citizen with zero interest in our tumultuous political sphere. It's an issue that has been talked about here and there but one that many are afraid to even touch upon anymore: Nuclear weapons. And more precisely, if President Trump is capable of making sound judgment in a critical nuclear situation.

Now, any average armchair analyst who doesn't like Republicans or the president can sit back and use 240 characters to tell you why Trump has his finger on the trigger and the world is soon to be dust. There are lots of different people with lots of different opinions and you'll of course find some of the most poignant here on the Internet. Everyone knows that, right? But what does it say when the foremost nuclear military authority of the nation comments on what would happen should the president order an "illegal" nuclear strike?

To even make comment on the issue for a person of such rank is quite a spectacle in itself. And I'm not sure we're talking about an interesting spectacle. I would want, as I'm sure most citizens would want, the leader of STRATCOM to respond to such inquires or quandaries with something like, "That would never happen," or maybe, "I have complete faith in the president and our procedures are defined and unwavering!" But no! General Hyten more than hinted that the concept of a president, or this president in particular, potentially issuing an illicit strike has crossed minds! And that the powers that be at STRATCOM would dissect that situation and react appropriately, perhaps even defying a direct presidential order.

To quote General Hyten directly, "We think about these things a lot. When you have this responsibility, how do you not think about it?" When I learned that these words had been spoken by a man chiefly responsible for our United States nuclear arsenal, I was shocked to be quite honest. Never in my life has any similar situation ever arisen, or if it did, it was well-buried in silent talks or pages of lost bureaucracy. Nuclear arms are far and away the most devastating, destructive, and frightening weapons that mankind has ever created. We all know the type of absolute annihilation they can cause. Possessing them can only be done with absolute oversight and responsibility. This citizen would prefer that our top brass be able to flatly say that they can trust our president in the event of a nuclear crisis.