Transfer of nuclear football

The nuclear codes are transferred immediately when the new president is sworn into office. But as Donald Trump has chosen to miss Joe Biden’s inauguration, the Pentagon had to find an alternative plan

“Nuclear football” and “nuclear biscuit” – carried around with president at all times – enable him to order nuclear strike at a moment’s notice

NUCLEAR FOOTBALL 
Aluminium-framed Zero Halliburton briefcase inside leather “jacket”

Weight: 20kg

Case attached via security cable around wrist

Communication with National Military Command Centre (NMCC) at Pentagon

Contents of “football”
1 Manila folder: Procedures for Emergency Broadcast System
2 Black Book: Contains “menu” of pre-planned strike options
3 Book of classified sites: List of bunkers to shelter president

1 2 3

NUCLEAR BISCUIT
Separate from football, plastic card containing authentication codes allows president to identify himself to military and order nuclear strike


TRANSFER OF COMMAND: Pentagon intends to send one nuclear football to Florida with Trump, then deactivate nuclear codes at noon on Jan 20 as newly sworn-in President Biden takes possession of second football and separate set of nuclear codes in Washington DC

Sources: Global Security, Smithsonian Institution 
Pictures: Smithsonian, Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS