Donald Trump on Saturday hit back at critics who question whether he should be entrusted with nuclear weapons, saying he would be the “last one” to ever authorize their use.
“Believe me, I would be the last one to use nuclear,” Trump said at a rally in Windham, N.H. “Because I understand what it represents. I understand what it means.”
{mosads}Trump’s comments came after a report earlier this week that the GOP presidential nominee had asked a foreign policy adviser repeatedly why the U.S. could not use its nuclear arsenal. The claim was made by MSNBC host Joe Scarborough on “Morning Joe” Wednesday.
Trump’s campaign denied that report, with spokeswoman Hope Hicks telling The Hill “there is no truth to this” earlier this week.
But the claim played into charges from Trump’s critics that he is not knowledgeable about foreign affairs and unprepared to oversee the nation’s nuclear arsenal.
Trump on Saturday also pointed to the Obama administration’s deal with Iran, which reduces sanctions on the country in exchange for it curbing its nuclear program. Trump says it will make the world less safe.
“When they do a deal like the Iran deal. What they are doing really is allowing nuclear to happen. That’s what’s going to happen. They are allowing it to happen.”