Joe Biden boasted that he had a “code to blow up the world” as he chatted about nuclear weapons during a visit to the world’s largest windmill factory.
The president mistakenly referred to his predecessor as “Congressman Trump” in an appearance littered with gaffes.
As he approached three workers in yellow vests at the Colorado plant, one of them appeared to ask the president an inaudible question.
Biden responded, “Look, my Marine is wearing this.” There is a code for blowing up the world. That’s not true, that’s not…nukes it is…fine, ok…you think I’m kidding.’
Biden told windmill workers he had code to ‘blow up the world’
The codes for launching nuclear weapons – located on a card known as a “nuclear cookie” – are carried in a black case called a “nuclear football”.
A military aide carries the suitcase and stays close to the president while traveling.
In a subsequent speech at CS Wind in Pueblo, Colorado, Biden attacked cuts that he said “Congressmen Trump and Boebert want to implement.”
That was a reference to Lauren Boebert, the Republican congresswoman from Colorado, whose district he visited on his trip.
The “nuclear football” is officially known as the “Presidential Emergency Satchel.”
It is a bulky briefcase that contains nuclear war plans and allows the president to transmit nuclear orders to the Pentagon.
The heavy case is carried by a military officer who is never far behind the president, whether the commander-in-chief is boarding a helicopter or leaving meetings with world leaders.
In the late 1950s, President Dwight Eisenhower and his advisers worried about vulnerability to a surprise nuclear attack.
To help the president make quick decisions, a military adviser carried a bag of documents to help him communicate with the Pentagon.
A military assistant carries the “nuclear football,” which contains launch codes for nuclear weapons
Nuclear football leaves Downing Street after Joe Biden visits British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on July 10, 2023
At first, the satchel and military aide only followed the president on trips outside Washington.
In the early 1960s, it became known as “football” under President John F. Kennedy.
This is believed to be due to the Kennedy family’s fondness for touch football.
Some vice presidents were also accompanied by a military aide carrying a “nuclear football” so they would have the codes in case something happened to the president.
Joe Biden called his predecessor “Congressman Trump”
Biden became confused when he criticized Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert of Colorado
When he landed in Pueblo, Colorado, Biden failed to stop to meet the people who had gathered to greet him.
He didn’t seem to see or even acknowledge Senator John Hickenlooper or Mayor Nick Gradisar.
Instead, he headed straight for “the beast,” his armored presidential limousine.
Before he boarded, he was made aware of the oversight and spent several minutes with the two dignitaries.
Joe Biden gestures during his visit to CS Wind, the world’s largest wind tower manufacturer, in Pueblo, Colorado
He later apologized in his speech in front of the wind turbine factory.
He said, “I knew I was late, so I came straight down the stairs to Air Force One. ‘I walked right past.’
Biden also stumbled slightly while boarding the plane on the way to Pueblo, quickly grabbing onto a railing and regaining his balance.
The president used his speech to condemn Boebert, whose district includes the wind turbine factory.
He attacked her for opposing his Inflation Reduction Act, which he credited with restoring jobs at the reopened factory, now owned by a South Korean company.
“She called this bill a massive failure. “You all know you’re part of a massive failure?” Biden asked the crowd.
“This all sounds like a massive error in thinking on the part of the congresswoman.”