<P> The nuclear football (also known as the atomic football, the President's emergency satchel, the Presidential Emergency Satchel, the button, the black box, or just the football) is a briefcase, the contents of which are to be used by the President of the United States to authorize a nuclear attack while away from fixed command centers, such as the White House Situation Room . It functions as a mobile hub in the strategic defense system of the United States . It is held by an aide - de-camp . </P> <P> According to a Washington Post article, the president is always accompanied by a military aide carrying a "football" with launch codes for nuclear weapons . The football is a metal Zero Halliburton briefcase carried in a black leather "jacket". The package weighs around 45 pounds (20 kilograms). A small antenna protrudes from the bag near the handle . </P>

Who carries the nuclear football for the president