*The man photographed carrying Donald Trump’s nuclear “football” briefcase at Mar-a-Lago last weekend has been identified as a former West Point standout Ricardo Turner.
TMZ reports that Turner got a big promotion when be was hired as one of Trump’s military aides. He became an international man of mystery and intrigued over the weekend when a Mar-a-Lago guest posted a photo with him saying … “This is Rick…He carries the ‘football.'”
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via TMZ:
The nuclear football is the briefcase for the hardware used by POTUS to authorize a nuclear attack while away from the fixed command centers. Trump promoted Ricardo from Major to Lieutenant Colonel on Monday in an Oval Office ceremony … according to White House Spokesman Sean Spicer.
According to White House Press Briefing:
The President participated in a pinning ceremony for Major Ricardo Turner, one of his military aides. The aides to the President are mid-grade officers, one from of each of the services. They provide direct support to the President in his role as Commander-in-Chief, and their primary responsibilities are to serve as an emergency action officer, aide-de-camp, and ceremonial aide. It’s a longstanding tradition that when the President’s military aide is promoted to the next higher grade, the President conducts that promotion. Major Ricardo Turner, the President’s military aide, was recently promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and the promotion was held in the Oval Office.