‘This is insane’: Trump ignites online panic with ‘madman’ tweets about ramping up nuclear weapons

Brad Reed BRAD REED
22 DEC 2016 AT 12:39 ET                  

The combination of Donald Trump, Twitter and nuclear weapons seems to be enough to send chills down humanity’s collective 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.

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 Donald J. Trump ? @realDonaldTrump
The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes
11:50 AM - 22 Dec 2016
  5,296 5,296 Retweets   15,726 15,726 likes

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.

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 Stephen Miller ? @redsteeze
LOL we're all going to die. https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/811977223326625792 …
11:52 AM - 22 Dec 2016
  57 57 Retweets   83 83 likes

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 Slacks @JaySlacks
Trump is on the toilet tweeting about nuclear war https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/811977223326625792 …
11:58 AM - 22 Dec 2016
  4 4 Retweets   5 5 likes

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 The real Jon Brodkin ? @jbrodkin
a nuclear weapon in every home! https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/811977223326625792 …

11:52 AM - 22 Dec 2016
  1 1 Retweet   4 4 likes
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 Eric Brown ? @ericbrownzzz
Donald Trump is repeating Nixon's Madman theory of nuclear deterrence but with an actual-ass madman in charge.
11:58 AM - 22 Dec 2016
  3 3 Retweets   2 2 likes

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 Duck & Cover Classic @ryanclassic
Problem: The world needs to come to its senses about nuclear weapons.Trump’s Solution: More nuclear weapons for us! 1:59 AM - 22 Dec 2016   3 3 Retweets   4 4 likes

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 Dange Buckhouse @DBuckhouse1
Looking at that Trump Nuclear Weapon tweet like
11:59 AM - 22 Dec 2016
  2 2 Retweets   likes

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 Ashley @Ashley67311506
This makes no sense. It also doesn't make me feel any better that Trump won't start a nuclear war.  We're all gonna die. https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/811977223326625792 …
12:00 PM - 22 Dec 2016
  2 2 Retweets   likes

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 echotoall @echotoall
The anti-NATO #Trump wants to increase the nuclear arms race. Fucking moron. $spy #politicalrisk https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/811977223326625792 …
12:01 PM - 22 Dec 2016
  1 1 Retweet   3 3 likes

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 A Dutiful Dreamer @ADutifulDreamer
Based on Trump's tweet re: nuclear capability, he must have hired Dr. Strangelove as his adviser on nuclear policy. #trump #drstrangelove
12:02 PM - 22 Dec 2016
  4 4 Retweets   2 2 likes

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 Oliver Willis ? @owillis
this is insane.
this is insane.
this is insane.
this is insane.https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/811977223326625792 …
11:55 AM - 22 Dec 2016
  74 74 Retweets   122 122 likes

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:

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 Joshua H. Pollack @Joshua_Pollack
You can spend unlimited sums chasing nuclear primacy, but can't catch it. A tweetstorm in six parts: https://twitter.com/Joshua_Pollack/status/811981534056038400 …
12:27 PM - 22 Dec 2016
  18 18 Retweets   12 12 likes

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 Joshua H. Pollack @Joshua_Pollack
This message implies that other countries - "the world" - have to be the adults when it comes to nuclear restraint. https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/811977223326625792 …
12:07 PM - 22 Dec 2016
  31 31 Retweets   27 27 likes

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_Pollack
What's more, the idea that building nukes makes others see the light has been tried and found wanting.

 Joshua H. Pollack @Joshua_Pollack
North Korea, 2006: "DPRK will do its utmost [for] denuclearization of the peninsula and... nuclear disarmament..." https://web-beta.archive.org/web/20141012092217/http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2006/200610/news10/04.htm …

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 Joshua H. Pollack @Joshua_Pollack
This is a game that many sides can play. There is no last, winning move when it comes to arms-racing. (END)
12:20 PM - 22 Dec 2016
  16 16 Retweets   15 15 likes

Source
http://www.rawstory.com/2016/12/this-is-insane-trump-ignites-online-panic-with-madman-tweets-about-ramping-up-nuclear-weapons/