The president doesn't have to consult anyone The sec of defense has to confirm the presidents identity but not the wisdom of the order Radiolab did a story on

The president doesn't have to consult anyone The sec of defense has to confirm the presidents identity but not the wisdom of the order Radiolab did a story on this and a former secretary of state confirmed it https://www.wnycstudios.org/story/nukes https://www.wnycstudios.org/story/nukes The principle for the army to not obey unlawful orders is the only legal way to stop a president from launching nukes. And that is very much a grey area (as to what is an unlawful order). Nixon's aides made sure he wouldn't launch nukes when he was unstable but did so in an illegal manner