A former CIA officer’s explosive claim that President Donald Trump attempted to use nuclear launch codes during an April confrontation with military leadership has fallen apart under scrutiny. Newsweek’s investigation found zero independent corroboration of the allegation.

The Unsubstantiated Accusation

Larry Johnson, a former CIA officer, made the startling allegation during an April 20 appearance on the Judging Freedom podcast. Johnson claimed that General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, refused to facilitate the use of nuclear codes during an emergency White House meeting. The podcast even featured footage of General Caine walking on White House grounds with his head down, presented as evidence of the confrontation. Johnson described the exchange as a significant blowup between Trump and military leadership.

Investigation Finds Nothing

Newsweek conducted an extensive investigation into Johnson’s claims and discovered no credible support. While high-level meetings did occur on April 18 regarding the Iran ceasefire expiration, no legitimate news organization or government official verified that nuclear launch authority was ever invoked. The lack of corroboration mirrors another debunked story that alleged Trump attempted to hijack the presidential vehicle on January 6. Both claims have been thoroughly discredited by investigators.

Pattern Of False Claims

The nuclear codes allegation represents the latest in a series of unverified accusations against Trump that collapse under investigation. Critics have attempted repeatedly to damage Trump’s credibility with sensational claims that fail to withstand fact-checking. The complete absence of supporting evidence from any credible source raises serious questions about the motivations behind such allegations. As the 2026 political landscape takes shape, these fabricated stories highlight the ongoing challenge of separating genuine news from politically motivated fiction.