US President's 'Nuclear Football' Handler Also Infected with COVID-19

Essential Presidential Personnel Carrying Nuclear Attack Codes in Emergencies
White House Becomes COVID-19 Hotspot

[Image source=American Heritage Foundation of Nuclear Energy (AHF)]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] It has been reported that a presidential essential aide responsible for the so-called 'nuclear football,' which contains the nuclear attack codes in case of emergency, was infected with COVID-19 before and after U.S. President Donald Trump received treatment for the novel coronavirus infection. As the entire White House has become a hotspot for COVID-19 spread, concerns are growing that the number of infected individuals may continue to rise.

According to foreign media including Bloomberg News, on the 6th (local time), two additional White House staff tested positive for COVID-19. Among them, one was identified as Jaina McCarron, a U.S. Coast Guard officer assigned to the White House Military Office (WHMO) responsible for the nuclear football. The nuclear football refers to the black briefcase containing the nuclear codes used by the U.S. president to authorize a nuclear strike on an enemy in an emergency. Since the nuclear football must always be kept close to the president, it is usually kept in the office space, and when moving, a military aide carries it. The other infected individual is known to be an active-duty soldier responsible for presidential security.

Before and after President Trump's COVID-19 infection, the White House has become a major hotspot for the virus. The day before, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany and two staff members from the press office were reported to have been infected with COVID-19. The U.S. Department of Defense also announced that Charles Ray, Vice Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, tested positive for COVID-19. Consequently, top military leaders including Air Force Chief of Staff Charles Brown and Navy Chief of Naval Operations Michael Gilday have entered home quarantine.

Not only President Trump but also White House aides have become super-spreaders within the White House. According to The New York Times (NYT), immediately after the disclosure on the 1st that Hope Hicks, a close aide to President Trump, tested positive, the next day on the 2nd, President Trump and the First Lady announced their infection and entered quarantine. Shortly thereafter, Nick Luna, a presidential aide, also tested positive.

Many Republican figures who attended the nomination ceremony for Amy Coney Barrett, a federal Supreme Court nominee, held at the White House Rose Garden on the 26th of last month, also tested positive for COVID-19. Among the attendees, Kellyanne Conway, former senior counselor to the White House, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Senator Thom Tillis, Senator Mike Lee, University of Notre Dame President John Jenkins, and Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship Church were confirmed positive. At least three White House correspondents were also reported to have tested positive.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.