The President of the United States uses Air Force One, travels in the Beast, and is always accompanied by a highly skilled Secret Service team whenever he travels abroad.
On September 10, U.S. President Joe Biden will make a state visit to Vietnam at the invitation of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. This will be President Biden’s first visit to Vietnam since he took office in early 2021.
As is customary, every time the President of the United States travels abroad, a robust security team and protective vehicles are mobilized to ensure the safety of the leader of the White House.
Most notably among these is Air Force One. In fact, this is not a specific aircraft but rather a designation for two Boeing 747-200B planes with tail numbers 28000 and 29000, specifically serving the President of the United States. When the President uses one of these planes, that aircraft is referred to as Air Force One.
Air Force One of President Joe Biden landing at Osan Air Base in South Korea in May 2022. Photo: Reuters
Equipped with advanced avionics and defense systems, AF1 is classified as a military aircraft, capable of withstanding airborne attacks.
It can jam enemy radar and deploy decoys to divert heat-seeking missiles. It also has the ability to refuel in mid-air, allowing for unlimited flight time, which is crucial in emergencies.
AF1 is also equipped with secure communication devices, enabling the aircraft to function as a mobile command center. There are 85 telephones, a two-way radio communication system, and computer connectivity on the plane.
Air Force One can reach a maximum speed of over 1,013 km/h, with a range of 12,550 km, and has a crew of 26 people. The aircraft can carry up to 70 passengers.
The interior cabin space is approximately 372 m2, divided into three levels, including a private room for the President, a medical room equipped with an operating table, a conference room, a dining room, and two kitchens capable of serving meals for 100 people at a time, as well as areas for the press, VIPs, security staff, and aides.
Several cargo planes, including the C-17 Globemaster, are used to transport the President’s armored vehicles and helicopters, often landing before his arrival.
According to the Washington Post, the President always travels with a military aide carrying an emergency briefcase known as the ‘nuclear football’. This briefcase does not contain a button or codes for an immediate launch of the entire U.S. nuclear arsenal; instead, it holds a phone and a special card known as a “biscuit.”
The ‘biscuit’ card is made of plastic and contains personal identification codes, allowing the President to authorize a nuclear strike on pre-selected targets. The President can only read the code on the ‘biscuit’ card by breaking the opaque plastic covering the card.
The military aide is always by the President’s side at all times, as only the President possesses the personal identification codes necessary to authorize an attack.
When Air Force One lands, the President of the United States will travel in the Cadillac One limousine, a luxurious and modern vehicle featuring numerous upgrades, often referred to as the “Beast.”
Weighing approximately 9 tons, with an armored body and bulletproof windows, the vehicle is believed to be equipped with tear gas launchers, sophisticated electronic systems, night vision cameras, and integrated satellite phones.
The “Beast” limousine of the President of the United States is designed with special protective layers. (Graphic: BBC).
The tires are reinforced around steel rims, meaning the “Beast” can still move if the tires are blown out.
The passenger compartment is sealed to protect against the risk of chemical attacks. A special foam layer will instantly spray around the fuel tank in the event of an accident to prevent fire hazards.
The vehicle can carry at least 7 people and is stocked with various medical supplies, including a refrigerator filled with blood that matches the President’s blood type.
A second identical “Beast” with the same license plate 800-002 serves as a “decoy” vehicle in the President’s motorcade.
Whenever the President’s limousine moves, it is accompanied by a large support vehicle convoy, including police escort vehicles, backup cars from the Secret Service, rapid response teams, armored SUV communication vehicles known as Roadrunners, and vehicles carrying medical teams and press members.
The motorcade of the President of the United States whenever he travels. (Graphic: BBC).
The President of the United States may also travel with a helicopter team, including the large Sikorsky VH-3D Sea Kings or the newer but smaller VH-60N White Hawks. Any helicopter carrying the President is referred to as Marine One.
These helicopters are equipped with communication devices, missile defense systems, and a reinforced fuselage to enhance protection.
As a security measure, Marine One often flies in a group of identical helicopters as decoys so that no one knows which one is actually carrying the President. They also transport supporting staff, special forces, and Secret Service agents, who are tasked with managing any emergencies during the flight.
The Secret Service is an indispensable “shield” in the security perimeter protecting the President of the United States. In 2018, the team accompanying then-President Donald Trump during his visit to England consisted of around 1,000 people, including over 150 Secret Service agents.
Secret Service agents open the door for President Biden before he boards Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland in May. (Photo: Reuters).
Secret Service agents are tasked with following the President everywhere, with the closest “shield” being the members of the Presidential Protection Division (PPD), who typically wear black suits and use specialized handguns like the SIG Sauer P229, developed in collaboration between Germany and Switzerland.
Additionally, the Secret Service also has a Counter Assault Team (CAT), which plays a crucial role in the protection detail of the President of the United States. This unit is equipped with heavy weaponry, ready to neutralize any threats from outside the President’s moving convoy.
When the President travels abroad, the Secret Service quickly surveys and inspects hotels to ensure maximum security. Hotel staff interacting with the President’s entourage must undergo background checks. “If anyone has a criminal history, the hotel management is instructed to prevent them from working that day,” said Ronald Kessler, author of a book on the U.S. Secret Service.
The Secret Service will also take over the entire upper and lower floors of the hotel where the President stays and commandeer a private elevator for him and his entourage to use.
For security reasons, the White House does not typically disclose the costs of each overseas trip by the President. However, rare reports from the U.S. Government Accountability Office show that Bill Clinton’s 1998 trip to six African countries cost $42.8 million. His visit to China that year cost $18.8 million, not including the budget allocated for the Secret Service, as this is classified information.
