<body><div>Former <a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a> in 2017 privately discussed the possibility conducting a nuclear strike on <a href="https://www.axios.com/world/north-korea">North Korea</a> and diverting the blame to another country, according to a newly published afterword of a book on the Trump administration, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-discussed-using-nuclear-weapon-north-korea-2017-blaming-someone-rcna65120">NBC News</a> reported.Driving the news: The paperback version of "Donald Trump v. the United States," by New York Times reporter Michael Schmidt, which will be published next Tuesday, offers more details about the period of <a href="https://www.axios.com/2017/12/15/the-trump-administrations-north-korea-crisis-1513301642">heightened tensions between the U.S. and North Korea</a>.The big picture: The book's afterword recounts then-White House chief of staff John Kelly's concern in 2017 regarding Trump's frequent talk of going to war with North Korea, per NBC News.<ul><li>Trump "cavalierly discussed the idea of using a nuclear weapon against North Korea, saying that if he took such an action, the administration could blame someone else for it to absolve itself of responsibility," Schmidt writes.</li><li>"It’d be tough to not have the finger pointed at us," Kelly told Trump, according to the book.</li><li>Kelly tried to dissuade Trump from perusing the option by explaining the economic repercussions of such a move. He also brought in military leaders to explain to Trump the likelihood with which war between the U.S. and North Korea would break out and the devastating consequences that could result.</li><li>Schmidt reports that the prospect of how many people could be killed had "no impact on Trump."</li></ul><ul><li>Trump was also "baffled and annoyed" that he would need congressional approval in order to conduct a preemptive strike on North Korea.</li></ul>What they're saying: "For the paperback of my book “Donald Trump v. the U.S.” I’ve done something a bit different than most authors and written a 12,000 word biography of Gen John Kelly onto it, telling the tale of his time as Trump’s" chief of staff, <a href="https://twitter.com/nytmike/status/1613502095348404225">Schmidt tweeted</a> Thursday.</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Trump discussed nuclear strike on North Korea and blaming another country, book says

Former President Donald Trump in 2017 privately discussed the possibility conducting a nuclear strike on North Korea and diverting the blame to another country, according to a newly published afterword of a book on the Trump administration, NBC News reported. Driving the news: The paperback version of \"Donald Trump v....

Former President Donald Trump in 2017 privately discussed the possibility conducting a nuclear strike on North Korea and diverting the blame to another country, according to a newly published afterword of a book on the Trump administration, NBC News reported. Driving the news: The paperback version of "Donald Trump v....