[libh8er]

For maximum effect (on election). Same reason a nuclear bomb is timed to explode a thousand feet before impact.

[Jrabbit]

Evidently Trump will need something big....so far, on Fox tonight, Tucker believes the polls and claims a Trump is further behind than he was in 16....never mind that he won. Cruz on Vannity says Trump in trouble. He’s worried. Vannity is concerned......finally told hubby to turn off that depressing crap! 😡

[Vermont Lt]

Just as an aside, the nuke is set off above ground to minimize the fallout at a distance. In terms of destruction, a ground blast would incur similar local damage, but it would throw a lot more material into the air. That material would spread out over miles. For military targets, that is not optimal.