Man who carried Clinton nuclear 'football' reveals what 'scares the hell out of me' about Air Force One story

Key Points:

• Retired Lt. Col. Robert “Buzz” Patterson, who carried the nuclear football for President Clinton, praised the recent Air Force One deception operation protecting President Trump in Ankara as a brilliant but longstanding security tactic.
• Patterson warned that public disclosure of these covert presidential protection methods, including decoys and aircraft swaps, risks endangering presidents, military personnel, and the White House press corps for years to come.
• The July 8 operation involved Trump switching planes via a catering truck while a decoy 747, protected by fighter jets and carrying officials and press, departed separately, a tactic Patterson confirmed has historical precedent dating back to Clinton’s administration.
• Patterson emphasized that such security measures are designed to protect the office of the presidency regardless of the individual and cautioned that exposing these tactics could compromise future presidential travel to high-threat zones and necessitate overhauling U.S. security protocols.
• He criticized media scrutiny and leaks about the operation as irresponsible and dangerous, stressing that secrecy and compartmentalization are essential to maintaining the safety of presidents and all involved in their protection.