Ex-CIA/NSA Head: US Troops Would Disobey Unlawful Orders Under President Trump

Ex-CIA chief: Armed forces would have to disobey Trump

The former director of the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency said Friday that if the military would have to disobey Donald Trump if he followed through on certain campaign promises as president.

Referring to Trump's suggestion to torture suspected terrorists and kill their families, Gen. Michael Hayden told TV host Bill Maher, "If he were to order that once in government, the American armed forces would refuse to act."

"You're required not to follow an unlawful order. That would be in violation of all the international laws of armed conflict," Hayden said. "I would be incredibly concerned if a President Trump governed in a way that was consistent with the language candidate Trump expressed during the campaign."

Trump frequently refers to his defense of waterboarding in campaign speeches.

"I would bring back waterboarding and I'd bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding," Trump said at a GOP debate. He has accused his competitors with being too "politically correct" on the issue of interrogation techniques.