• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • First Impressions - The Game
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Next US President will have to carry the 'nuclear football' and 'biscuit' at all times

Home> News> US News

Updated 15:23 5 Nov 2024 GMTPublished 12:31 4 Nov 2024 GMT

Next US President will have to carry the 'nuclear football' and 'biscuit' at all times

Millions of Americans are heading to the polls to vote in their new president

Tom Earnshaw

Tom Earnshaw

The free world is about to get a new leader and there is a very real chance that it could be Donald Trump once again as the 2024 US presidential election nears its end.

But regardless of who wins out of the controversial Republican candidate and his opponent, Democratic nominee and current Vice President Kamala Harris, the 47th President of the United States will be handed something called the 'nuclear football'. And to make the terminology that little bit stranger, being given that gives an incoming president something known as the 'biscuit'.

While it might feel like a fever dream of words, the reality to them is a lot more sinister, serious, and very real.

What is the 'nuclear football?'

More than 150 million votes are set to be cast in the 2024 presidential election, which is being held on Tuesday, 5 November.

Advert

With Trump looking to get back in to the Oval Office after losing out to incumbent President Joe Biden, it is Biden's VP up against him as Harris looks to make the step up and take over from her current boss.

No one can call the election, with polls sitting slap bang in the middle of the margin of error. So it's anybody's game, with the world watching on and holding its breath.

Whether we have a President Harris or Trump after all is said and done, one thing that the Biden administration will hand over is the 'nuclear football'.

It's nothing to do with the NFL, though, with it a million miles away from the gridiron or Super Bowl Sunday. Instead, it is a very real black briefcase containing incredibly powerful items should a president want to conduct a nuclear strike.

Donald Trump is looking to become the US President once again (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Donald Trump is looking to become the US President once again (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

'Nuclear football' and the 'biscuit'

When in the White House, the nuclear football is put to one side given the very real operation centre that exists within it when it comes to launching a nuclear strike.

Advert

But outside of these fixed command centres, the POTUS must, at all times, travel with a mobile command-and-control system.

Inside the nuclear football is the Presidential Emergency Satchel; a number of codes that the president would have to read allowed to confirm their identity to military personnel in the Pentagon.

The nuclear football also has a list of optional plans for pre-emptive or retaliatory nuclear strikes; a list of sites where the president could safely stay during a nuclear conflict; and a description of procedures for using the country’s Emergency Alert System.

Also included is a plastic card known as the 'biscuit'. This is a series a Gold Codes the POTUS must consult to launch a nuclear strike. These codes differ to the codes to launch anything from the nuclear arsenal.

Using the biscuit, the president would have to read them allowed to confirm their identity to military personnel in the National Military Command Center.

Advert

Kamala Harris already possesses the nuclear football as the incumbent US Vice President (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Kamala Harris already possesses the nuclear football as the incumbent US Vice President (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Launching a nuke

The actual process needed to launch a nuclear weapon is a lot more thought out than you might think.

Before the nuclear football is activated, the POTUS must launch a conference with military and civilian advisers to making sure such an act would not violate international law, meaning the president has to jump through hoops regardless of who sits in the Oval Office.

All in all, there are three nuclear footballs. One is carried by the POTUS and another by the vice president, who would assume command if the president were to die or no longer be of sound mind.

Advert

A military aide carries the 'nuclear football', which contains launch codes for nuclear weapons (Andrew Leyden / NurPhoto via Getty Images)
A military aide carries the 'nuclear football', which contains launch codes for nuclear weapons (Andrew Leyden / NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The third nuclear football is in the White House at all times.

When it comes to Trump or Harris being given the presidential nuclear football - something they've both already possessed in their former and current roles, respectively - it is a process that is usually undertaken shortly before the inauguration ceremony where they officially become the next president of the United States.

Featured Image Credit: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images / Andrew Leyden / NurPhoto via Getty Images

Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Politics

Tom Earnshaw
Tom Earnshaw

Tom joined LADbible Group in 2024, currently working as SEO Lead across all brands including LADbible, UNILAD, SPORTbible, Tyla, UNILAD Tech, and GAMINGbible. He moved to the company from Reach plc where he enjoyed spells as a content editor and senior reporter for one of the country's most-read local news brands, LancsLive. When he's not in work, Tom spends his adult life as a suffering Manchester United supporter after a childhood filled with trebles and Premier League titles. You can't have it all forever, I suppose.

X

@TREarnshaw

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

8 hours ago
9 hours ago
  • 8 hours ago

    Mysterious giant structures have been discovered beneath the surface of Mars

    Researchers think it could point towards a volcano

    News
  • 8 hours ago

    Sister of woman who murdered their parents and lived with mummified bodies for years speaks out on horrific crimes

    Virginia McCullough received a life sentence last October after murdering her parents

    News
  • 9 hours ago

    Mum left hours away from 'losing her life' has foot amputated after spotting an ingrown nail

    She said she got ingrown toenails about once a week

    News
  • 9 hours ago

    Donald Trump issues scathing response to Bruce Springsteen after singer slammed 'treasonous administration'

    Donald Trump hasn't taken the comments well...

    News
  • Donald Trump makes thoughts clear on whether he will run for third term as president
  • Donald Trump suggests U-turn on decision to run for third term as president in speech to US troops
  • People are freaking out after learning why US Presidents have to carry 'the biscuit' at all times
  • What UK and US has agreed as Donald Trump announces historic trade deal