What’s in the deadly briefcase that never leaves a US president’s side

In the United States, there are a few things that never leave the president’s side and only do so on the day he leaves office after an election loss or the end of his tenure. One of those things is Nuclear football or just football. The football is a metal Zero Halliburton briefcase carried in a leather bag and weighed 20 kilograms in 2005. According to an article by Business Insider, the briefcase contains equipment that presidents would use to authenticate and command US nuclear forces while away from physical command and control centers. 

The hefty briefcase which is carried by a military aid always accompanies the President at all times. According to Schwartz, there are at least three to four identical footballs. One tag along with the president, one with the vice president, and one set aside for the designated survivor during events such as inaugurations and State of the Union addresses. Traditionally, football is handed over from one president to another during the inauguration of the incoming president. However, the January 20, 2021 inauguration presents a difficult challenge as President Trump skips Joe Biden’s inauguration. Having that Trump is still president till the point Biden is sworn in at noon on Wednesday, Trump will still be moving with the football as he heads to Florida.

The constitution of the country gives President Trump complete authority over the US arsenal until the incoming president is sworn in. Even though the issue presents certain challenges, it is likely that other extra footballs have been arranged by the White House Military Office to ensure that the handing over process runs smoothly.

According to CNN, Trump will have no authority over the nuclear codes he carries, and they will be automatically deactivated the same minute US President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in. Added to the football is a plastic card known as “biscuit” which the heads of state carry at all times. The card contains alphanumeric codes used to identify the president who holds the legal power over a nuclear launch. Biden and his deputy Vice president Kamala Harris received the football during the inauguration and are likely to receive their biscuits on Thursday morning after being briefed on the process of initiating a nuclear strike.