On November 9, 2017, President Donald J. Trump concluded his trip to China. It also marked a day when Chinese and America officials channeled their inner-Tyler Durden and got into a brief, but very embarrassing tussle over the nuclear football. It’s a classic case of someone not getting the memo. The person carrying the nuclear football is always close to the president at all times. When Trump visited the Great Hall of the People, a Chinese security official stopped the military aide from entering with the football. It ended with Chinese security grabbing White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, sending the Secret Service into action; an agent tackled the security guard. Axios has the scoop:
When the U.S. military aide carrying the nuclear football entered the Great Hall, Chinese security officials blocked his entry. (The official who carries the nuclear football is supposed to stay close to the president at all times, along with a doctor.)
A U.S. official hurried into the adjoining room and told Kelly what was happening. Kelly rushed over and told the U.S. officials to keep walking — "We're moving in," he said — and the Americans all started moving.
Then there was a commotion. A Chinese security official grabbed Kelly, and Kelly shoved the man’s hand off of his body. Then a U.S. Secret Service agent grabbed the Chinese security official and tackled him to the ground.
The whole scuffle was over in a flash, and the U.S. officials told about the incident were asked to keep quiet about it.
The news organization added that while the altercation was brief, the Chinese did not possess or even touch the briefcase that accesses America’s nuclear arsenal. Chinese officials later apologized for the screw up.
UPDATE: Secret Service pushed back on Axios’ story, though reporter Jonathan Swan stands by it 100 percent:
Latest: The @SecretService has now put out this statement. An eyewitness and sources briefed on the incident say the Chinese official ended up on the ground. USSS denies that and calls it a "short scuffle." pic.twitter.com/elceZ97R0h
— Jonathan Swan (@jonathanvswan) February 19, 2018
Do you deny on the record that a US Secret Service agent physically intervened during the Kelly kerfuffle and the Chinese official ended up on the ground? https://t.co/HCiU90Avyk
— Jonathan Swan (@jonathanvswan) February 19, 2018
The official line from the White House about this incident, now, per @PressSec: "A quick scuffle ensued and the individual was detained." ("Detained" sounds more diplomatic but reality is the Chinese security official ended up on the ground.) https://t.co/2TizjezuS1
— Jonathan Swan (@jonathanvswan) February 19, 2018
Latest: The @SecretService has now put out this statement. An eyewitness and sources briefed on the incident say the Chinese official ended up on the ground. USSS denies that and calls it a "short scuffle." pic.twitter.com/elceZ97R0h
— Jonathan Swan (@jonathanvswan) February 19, 2018