When I was in the Canadian Military, we were taught it was not unlawful to disobey an illegal order. Bombing an area with no provocation or declaration of War would be an illegal act and the subordinate would be under no obligation to follow it. I imagine US Military law is similar. 

I imagine if he tried something like that, Pence would be called immediately and the 25th Amendment would activate. 

If that were the case, the nuclear deterrent would be ineffective. A hostile power could launch a nuclear attack and it would hit while the subordinates double-checked whether there was provocation or not.

ICMBs will hit faster than subordinates can consult.

"In the atomic age, when decisions must be made very quickly, the presidency has evolved into something akin to a nuclear monarchy. With a single phone call, the commander in chief has virtually unlimited power to rain down nuclear weapons on any adversarial regime and country at any time. You might imagine this awesome executive power would be hamstrung with checks and balances, but by law, custom and congressional deference there may be no responsibility where the president has more absolute control. There is no advice and consent by the Senate. There is no second-guessing by the Supreme Court."

LINK to source article, which was written in 2016.

The newspaper is called "The San Francisco Chronicle".  

As for obeying an illegal order - I thought we settled this after World War II.  "I was just following orders" is no longer anywhere NEAR good enough.

Marc

I have no doubt it's there, but I don't see the article you're talking about on the SF chronicle. Any chance of a link?

Even if the missiles are stopped from hitting their target, they're going to be charged with a multitude of crimes, including treason. And possibly even handed over to the country they nuked or tried to nuke.

I don't trust him. And in a nuclear scenario, who would have time to double check the president? Is he believable? Doesn't matter - he's the one to launch them. Again, unless someone objects and a gallows is erected for regicide. They would probably be the best case scenario.