Former US Secretary of Defense William Perry said that the president single-handedly decides on a nuclear strike. According to him, the head of the Pentagon, James Mattis, will not be able to stop Donald Trump if he wants to press the red button. "The Minister of Defense does not have the right to veto. Such a decision is made by the president, "Perry added, quoted by Politico. The head of the White House, as William observes, can only consult Mattis if he so desires. The order from Trump comes to the Strategic Command, while the Minister of Defense and especially other officials may not even know about it. "If there is more time and the president wants to consult with the defense minister, then all the same, the only thing he can do is give advice," concluded William Perry. In his opinion, Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson play a "stabilizing role" in the administration of the incumbent president. Perry also claims that the likelihood of a nuclear war has grown significantly, due to the fact that Trump stood at the helm of the United States.

William Perry is an American businessman and engineer. He held the post of Secretary of Defense from February 3, 1994 to January 23, 1997.