Mark Milley reportedly took action to ensure a 'rogue' Trump wouldn't launch nuclear weapons after Jan. 6


Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Mark Milley was so convinced that then-President Donald Trump had gone into "serious mental decline" after the Capitol riot that he took steps to limit him from going "rogue" and launching nuclear weapons, a new book by Bob Woodward reportedly reveals.
Peril, an upcoming book written by Woodward and Washington Post journalist Robert Costa, reports that after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, Milley secretly called a meeting at the Pentagon and instructed officials not to take orders to launch nuclear weapons unless he was involved, according to CNN.
"No matter what you are told, you do the procedure," he reportedly told them. "You do the process. And I'm part of that procedure."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Milley reportedly then went around the room to ask the officials to confirm they understood this. He was worried Trump might "go rogue" and "certain that Trump had gone into a serious mental decline in the aftermath of the election, with Trump now all but manic, screaming at officials and constructing his own alternate reality about endless election conspiracies," the book reportedly says.
At one point after the Capitol riot, Milley reportedly had a phone call with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), during which she questioned him about whether there was "anybody in charge at the White House who was doing anything but kissing [Trump's] fat butt" and said the president is "crazy." Milley reportedly responded, "Madam Speaker, I agree with you on everything."
The book also reveals Milley held secret phone calls with his Chinese counterpart to assure him the United States wouldn't strike the country, The Washington Post reports. Another revelation in the book, according to CNN, is a description of a tense meeting in the Oval Office, during which Trump reportedly told then-Vice President Mike Pence that if he didn't take steps to overturn the election, "I don't want to be your friend anymore."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Millions turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ rallies
Speed Read An estimated 7 million people participated, 2 million more than at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June
-
Conservative megadonors build a new bank thanks to Trump administration approval
IN THE SPOTLIGHT With a Lord Of The Rings-inspired name, and the backing of some of the biggest GOP financiers around, Erebor Bank is set to make major waves in the crypto world
-
DOJ indicts John Bolton over classified files
Speed Read Continuing the trend of going after his political enemies, Trump prosecutes his former national security adviser
-
Trump, Putin set summit as Zelenskyy lands in DC
Speed Read Trump and Putin have agreed to meet in Budapest soon to discuss ending the war in Ukraine
-
Courts deal setbacks to Trump’s Chicago operations
Speed Read President Donald Trump cannot deploy the National Guard in Illinois
-
‘The illusion of wealth can encourage people to take on more debt’
instant opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Pentagon reporters turn in badges after refusing rules
Speed Read They refused to sign a restrictive new press policy imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
-
Supreme Court points to gutting Voting Rights Act
speed read States would no longer be required to consider race when drawing congressional maps