President Trump’s national security adviser John Bolton says Democratic presidential contender Kirsten Gillibrand should give him a call and brief him on a new, high-tech missile the administration knows nothing about: “tactile nuclear weapons.”
The New York senator, a member of the chamber’s Armed Services Committee, repeatedly used the phrase — she probably meant “tactical nuclear weapons” — at a town hall in Dover, N.H., this week, saying she was against such touchy-feely munitions. Radio host Hugh Hewitt played a 40-second recording from the event when he had Bolton on his show yesterday, which had the national security adviser in stitches.
“The presidential campaign is underway. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand ventured into strategic matters at a town hall in Dover,” Hewitt said, introducing the clip.
“When you say you want to develop low-yield nuclear weapons that are tactile, what you’re saying is you want to use them. Now, the military will make an argument to say, ‘Oh, this is just again to make, we have to have an equal threat. And this, if it’s usable, then it’s a better threat.’ I just found that is not believable,” Gillibrand said. “So I opposed the entire defense bill because of that one provision. So if I am president, I am going to make sure we unwind that completely, and I don’t think we should be trying to create tactile nuclear weapons.”
Bolton burst into laughter. “Tactile nuclear weapons?” he spluttered. “Well, I was unfamiliar with the concept, Mr. Ambassador,” Hewitt said. A mirthful Bolton responded, “I have to say, I was unfamiliar with it as well. I wonder what Sen. Gillibrand knows that I don’t.”
Bolton continued, still chortling, “Well, you know, Hugh, as national security adviser, I don’t get involved in politics. But I’ll just say maybe Sen. Gillibrand could give me a call and tell me what she knows about those tactile nuclear weapons. I’d be interested in learning it.”
