US has no 'dead man's switch' to attack Iran if it kills Trump
The U.S. government lacks a 'dead man's switch' to automatically retaliate against Iran if President Donald Trump were to be assassinated. Succession protocols, such as the 25th Amendment, dictate that the Vice President would assume command and decide on any military response.
Why it matters
This clarifies the legal and technical constraints on U.S. military command, debunking the notion of automated retaliatory strikes in the event of presidential assassination.
By WILL WEISSERT Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] Leer en español --> Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. --> Share
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is suggesting he has left standing orders for the U.S. military to destroy Iran “ at levels they’ve never seen before ” if Tehran follows through on its long-standing threats to kill him.
But the U.S. government has no way to create an automatic, preauthorized “dead man’s switch” that would prompt immediate retaliation.
Instead, if Trump were killed, the transfer of power to his successor is governed by the 25th Amendment and the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 . Vice President JD Vance instantaneously would become commander in chief and have authority for any retaliation.
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