Featured Image Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images/Scott Olson/Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Politics, US News
Mia Williams
Topics: Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Politics, US News
Donald and Melania Trump both have code names that are used by their security teams for 'clarity'.
Today (20 January) marks a very important day for the Trumps: They will become the 47th president and first lady of the US.
Trump's inauguration ceremony - which has broken one big tradition for the first time since 1985 by being held indoors - is now taking place, with his wife Melania by his side.
Advert
And after surviving a shock attempted assassination in July 2024, we're pretty sure security has been ramped up to the max for today's events.
Despite being known to the world as Donald and Melania, the family actually have code names which are used by their teams for 'clarity'.
And it isn't just the Trump family who go by these names - it's a tradition that has stood for nearly 80 years.
Every president and first lady, including their immediate family members, have had a code name.
Speaking to CNN, Secret Service special agent Jonathan Wackrow said: "Over time, the protectees have almost taken on the persona of the call sign that they had selected.
"With former President Barack Obama, 'Renegade' is a great example: How he went against the establishment in some of the things that he had done, and like Barbara Bush, whose call sign was 'Tranquility', embodied the tranquility and peacefulness in a time of war."
There's just one rule to the names - each family member's code name has to start with the same letter.
Biden and First Lady Jill Biden go by 'Celtic' and 'Capri', for instance.
Meanwhile, back in 2017 during his first stint in the White House, Trump picked 'Mogul', as a nod to his entrepreneurship and money-mindedness. The incoming first lady Melania was given 'Muse', and his son Donald Trump Jr. is 'Mountaineer' - monikers all of which will remain during Trump's second round at presidency.
The Obama's took a slightly more wholesome approach when deciding their code names.
Barrack was known as 'Renegade', his wife Michelle was 'Renaissance', their daughter Malia was known as 'Radiance', and their other daughter Sasha was nicknamed 'Rosebud'.
This knowledge comes as the incoming first lady arrived for a church service ahead of the ceremony today, sporting a black and white ensemble. She also wore a matching hat, making it tricky to see her face.
As a result, many are questioning whether it is really Melania under the hat, or a body double that has been hired to accompany Trump throughout the day.
However, despite Melania not being present for a large amount of Trump's campaign, we highly doubt that he hired a body double to replace his wife for such an important occasion.