Mike Pence had ‘nuclear football’ with him as he was rushed to safety during Capitol riot

Among the disturbing footage played during Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial is a clip of a military aide following Mike Pence, as he was being rushed to safety during the Capitol riots, holding what defence experts now identify as the “nuclear football” — an emergency satchel containing nuclear strike codes.

The startling footage was aired on the second day of the Senate impeachment trial by House impeachment manager Stacey Plaskett. The footage showed the evacuation of the then vice president Mr Pence and his family even as a mob chanted, “hang Mike Pence” alongside a makeshift gallows erected at the Capitol building.

A nuclear football (a briefcase) and the “nuclear biscuit” (the activation codes) is an “emergency satchel” carried by a military aide accompanying the vice president at all times. The satchel contains the equipment and codes to launch a nuclear attack.