The curious red button on the US President's desk

On the US President's desk there is always a red button, usually next to the phone, but few people know its real function.

Recently, British billionaire Richard Branson revealed its secret. Billionaire Branson, who is a close friend of former President Barack Obama, said that the 44th President of the United States did not hesitate to press the red button during his time in the Oval Office.

Red button located near the phone

"When Obama saw me looking at the red button, he said: Normally, the red button is used in emergency situations, but now I press it to order tea for my guests," the billionaire owner of Virgin Group revealed.

Previously, in April, American journalists also discovered President Donald Trump pressing the red button to order a soft drink.

According to People, the "red button" is the traditional term for the system that allows leaders with nuclear power to activate their arsenal in the event of war. In fact, that system is not really a button, but rather a nuclear briefcase, filled with special equipment and codes to activate the weapon.

The mobile system is designed to be used in situations where fixed command posts, such as the White House Situation Room, are not available.

Currently, both the Russian and American presidents have "red buttons".

In the United States, the so-called Presidential Emergency Briefcase is often referred to as the "Nuclear Briefcase." In Russia, the system is called Cheget, and it is part of the automated system for command and control of Russia's strategic nuclear forces.

Billionaire Branson is a close friend of former President Obama. After ending his term in January this year, Mr. Obama spent 10 days on this billionaire's private island in the British Virgin Islands.

According to VNN