(MENAFN- Asia Times)
According to several unnamed US officials, the so-called 'nuclear football' — a briefcase that holds items which allow the president to authorize a nuclear strike — was briefly blocked from following Trump during the US president's visit to Beijing.
A tussle ensued. White House Chief of Staff John Kelly ordered Trump's team to push past Chinese security. A Chinese security official was tackled to the ground. Beijing later apologized.
Or so that's , which was 'over in a flash,' citing accounts given by five unnamed US officials.
The news website has risen to notoriety this year with numerous exclusive scoops fed from sources in or close to the White House, often reported by Jonathan Swan, who described this event. The scuffle reportedly took place at the Great Hall of the People on November 9th in Beijing.
It appears that Swan's sources did not witness the event first hand, as he writes 'the US officials told about the incident were asked to keep quiet about it.'
'I'm told that at no point did the Chinese have the nuclear football in their possession or even touch the briefcase,' Swan said, adding that 'I'm also told the head of the Chinese security detail apologized to the Americans afterwards for the misunderstanding.'
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