During Friday’s “Real Time,” host Bill Maher asked MSNBC military analyst and retired U.S. Army Colonel Jack Jacobs what generals would do if President Trump “gives a crazy order” and starts a war.

Col. Jacobs eased into an answer, saying that although every president has the opportunity to push the button, generals serving the administration do play a part in the process.

“If you’re at the bottom of the food chain like I was, you’re required to put your two cents in,” Col. Jacobs said. “As long as the order is not immoral or illegal, you have to carry it out. But when you get to be at the top of the food chain, you’re responsible for making sure also that we don’t do anything stupid.”

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Maher was relieved to hear that… until Jacobs finished his answer.

“If you want to know if the president can order the destruction of the entire known universe by himself and not be checked by anybody,” Jacobs said, “yes, he could.”

“Ah. OK,” Maher said with a straight face, then burst into shocked laughter.

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And what about Gen. Kelly, the White House Chief of Staff who many came to believe would keep the POTUS in check? His comment during an interview with Laura Ingraham that “the lack of an ability to compromise led to the Civil War” left many shaking their head in disbelief.

“Anybody who articulates that the [Civil] War was not about slavery has been smoking too many left-handed cigarettes,” Jacobs joked.