An actual nuclear blast would feel like a bit of an understatement at this point now that we’ve felt the shockwaves of President Trump’s tweet Tuesday night reverberate through social media and the press. In case you missed it, here it is again, currently hovering just above 420,000 likes:
North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the “Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.” Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2018
Sure, CNN thought it was breaking news and wondered if threatening a nuclear strike violated Twitter’s terms of service. Check out this clip of Fox News’ Greg Gutfeld busting a gut over it:
Clip: @greggutfeld zings @brianstelter on today's @TheFive w/ @DanaPerino pic.twitter.com/Hh3AWDPYT7
— johnny dollar (@johnnydollar01) January 3, 2018
Perhaps in a bid to calm the country’s nerves a bit, CNN’s Chris Cillizza did a bit of fact-checking Wednesday, revealing that President Trump doesn’t actually have a big button on his desk that launches nuclear missiles at North Korea.
No, Trump doesn't have a big nuclear button on his desk | Analysis by @CillizzaCNN https://t.co/SNZ7kiEHid pic.twitter.com/ucnv6Krusz
— CNN (@CNN) January 3, 2018
Practically speaking, it makes lots and lots of sense that there is no nuclear button on the president’s desk. As a clumsy person myself, I can imagine a president accidentally bumping into it — or tripping and landing a hand on it. Not good.
Now, that said: The power to launch a nuclear strike does rest entirely in the hands of Trump. Or, more accurately, in the hands of a small rotating group of military personnel who carry a briefcase that contains the nuclear codes.
Yeah, we know … remember the time Vice President Joe Biden in a speech pointed out the military aide who travels with him carrying the nuclear launch codes? CNN didn’t seem flustered about that, though.
Is everyone a little calmer now, or was that piece written just to soothe Brian Stetler and Anderson Cooper?
Damn, what would we do without the brilliant Chris Cillizza? https://t.co/kRiiYkWnoB
— Amber Athey (@amber_athey) January 3, 2018
More hard hitting reporting from CNN. 🙄 https://t.co/eGOR0JknyB
— Don't Worry About It (@1WhiskeyGrace) January 3, 2018
Wow, if true. https://t.co/CDxMOtIGjN
— JW Paine (@PirateBallerina) January 3, 2018
It’s almost like he wasn’t talking about an actual button. https://t.co/8vBh7yrpYe
— HR Paperstacks, JD MA (@kidslovetrains) January 3, 2018
Top tier reporting there, CNN. I never would have guessed Trump was being metaphorical.
Here I was thinking he had a button the size of a dinner plate just sitting on his desk at all times. https://t.co/PeAgVldpxo
— DatNoFact (@datnofact) January 3, 2018
Ohhh ok sorry I thought he meant literally a button on his desk https://t.co/DWMaOVchoW
— Peter (@petermck_) January 3, 2018
It's a figure of speech dummies 😂 https://t.co/IpshYRqm3m
— Romrik Flores (@TheRomrikJoshua) January 3, 2018
When a news organization has no one on staff that recognizes metaphors https://t.co/zABo9M3Ovn
— Alan Cristoffer (@TedyhereMC) January 3, 2018
Thank you @CillizzaCNN and @CNN, for helping your readers understand what a figure of speech is.
Everyone else already knew this. https://t.co/R3Zg0eX7qt— 『Anime Dad』 (@TheAnimeDad) January 3, 2018
It is in a briefcase that is carried where ever @POTUS goes. And it has been that way for decades. https://t.co/xfsvXKnd9j
— YOU must be in MENSA (@aubergine20) January 3, 2018
Breaking news: CNN has discovered the nuclear football… Public knowledge for many years https://t.co/mhsk4TPeAc
— Bennett Harnisch (@StoicPolitics) January 3, 2018
Deep analysis that we all need in this moment. Duh, the big button is in the briefcase thing.
Oh what? It's not a button, you say? Huh, who knew? https://t.co/z4YwySaiF5
— Megan Mishler (@meggymish) January 3, 2018
Looks like @CillizzaCNN and @cnn are making one last ditch attempt to secure a clean sweep at the @realDonaldTrump #FakeNews media awards next week. https://t.co/AdrONo3qHQ
— Richard K (@AusRichie) January 3, 2018
How 👏 are 👏 you 👏 actually 👏 taken 👏 seriously 👏 https://t.co/qOiDkPth3r
— Tommeh (@ThomasVirgl) January 3, 2018
Honestly, I really thought all the chatter about CNN's juvenile behavior had to be somewhat exaggerated, but I was wrong… https://t.co/h25FgI8sDf
— Pogo Possum (@pogo_xx) January 3, 2018
CNN has to publish this because most hipster-douche millennials, like them, probably think there is just a button. https://t.co/7U6CgroSLZ
— Tom (@BoreGuru) January 3, 2018
He has a point.
I can see why everyone in America openly laughs at CNN and calls them #FakeNews https://t.co/yZwygilYxR
— Gregor Clegane (@LexFlair) January 3, 2018
CNN paid Chris to write this. Let that sink in. https://t.co/5saP1LpIOx
— (((Jason Rantz))) on AM 770 KTTH (@jasonrantz) January 3, 2018
Yup, they've got a team of monkeys working 'round the clock. https://t.co/NgeY3gbHrb
— Andy Rutledge (@andyrutledge) January 3, 2018
Example 50,546 why CNN deserves not to be taken seriously. Analysing a figure of speech? Hard hitting stuff, brain giant. @CillizzaCNN https://t.co/hyPmHCxskN
— Rev. Mauldin 🏍 (@Reverend_Ducati) January 3, 2018
Yes, but does he know how to feed pond fish properly? How does this dude still have a job? https://t.co/SRJS3N5Wp2
— Heath Bilbrey (@HeathBilbrey) January 3, 2018
Related:
MSNBC analyst warns Trump’s NK tweet foreshadows planetary annihilation
Getting Trump banned from Twitter over his nuke button tweet is the new impeachment
