Amid ongoing scrutiny and backlash following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania, the Secret Service has reportedly assigned a new code name for vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance.
The Ohio Republican is Trump’s running mate as the former president seeks to reclaim the White House.
According to the Daily Mail in London, Vance’s Secret Service code name is “Bobcat,” based on information from a friend of Vance’s. Fox News Digital has reached out to both the Trump-Vance campaign and the Secret Service for comments.
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Secret Service code names are designated for presidents, vice presidents, first ladies, and other prominent individuals under the agency’s care.
These names once served a real protective purpose for the nation’s leading figures.
Sen. JD Vance and his wife Usha Chilukuri Vance watch as he is nominated for Vice President on July 15, 2024, at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
In today’s world of encrypted communication, these names have mostly become ceremonial, facilitating swift communication during high-stress situations.
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Code names are often chosen on a whim, a Secret Service representative once told The Washington Post.
However, they typically reflect aspects of the individual’s personal background or heritage, and it’s said to be customary for family code names to have alliteration.
Former President Donald Trump with his running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, during a recent interview on Fox News Channel. (Fox News)
Below are some known Secret Service code names sourced from Britannica and additional references.
Bobcat
Vice presidential candidate Vance. The “Bobcats” nickname is associated with both Ohio University and Breathitt County High School in Jackson, Kentucky, the family hometown Vance detailed in his bestselling 2016 memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy.”
Capri
First lady Jill Biden, paired with her husband, Celtic.
Celtic
President Joe Biden. He was given this name when he served as vice president, honoring his Irish ancestry.
President Joe Biden speaks from the Oval Office about his decision to withdraw from the Democratic presidential race on July 24, 2024. (Evan Vucci, Pool via AP)
Dancer
First lady Rosalynn Carter. She also had the code name Lotus Petal.
Deacon
President Jimmy Carter. This name reflects his deeply held religious beliefs, as noted by Britannica.
Eagle
President Bill Clinton. It has been speculated that this name relates to his affiliation with the Boy Scouts, where “Eagle Scout” is the highest rank.
Evergreen
First lady Hillary Clinton, married to Eagle.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with her husband, former U.S. President Bill Clinton. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Hoosier
Vice President Mike Pence. This name reflects his roots in Indiana — the Hoosier State.
Hummingbird
Second lady Karen Pence, married to Hoosier.
Lace
First lady Jackie Kennedy. This name is believed to honor her refined style and matches her husband’s code name.
Lancer
President John F. Kennedy. The code name was fitting as his administration was often likened to Camelot, where Lancelot was a famed knight, according to Britannica.
John F. Kennedy with Jacqueline and their daughter Caroline during a family outing in 1960. (Bettmann)
Lyric
Caroline Kennedy. A nostalgic title, as she inspired Neil Diamond’s popular sing-along “Sweet Caroline,” released in 1969, six years post her father’s assassination.
Muse
First lady Melania Trump, married to Mogul. This might be a nod to the former model’s inspiring allure.
Mogul
President Donald Trump. Initially, he wished for the code name “Humble,” according to Britannica, but the Secret Service opted for something more extravagant.
Former first lady Melania Trump arrives at the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Passkey
President Gerald Ford, who took office following Nixon.
Rainbow
First lady Nancy Reagan, married to Rawhide.
Rawhide
President Ronald Reagan. Reagan often appeared in Western films and frequently campaigned wearing a cowboy hat while running for governor of California.
Then-California Governor Ronald Reagan enjoys a trail ride in a cowboy hat during a GOP Governor’s Conference on December 5, 1968. (Getty Images)
Renaissance
First lady Michelle Obama, married to Renegade.
Renegade
President Barack Obama. He selected this nickname from a list of names starting with ‘R,’ as reported by Time magazine in 2021.
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Searchlight
President Richard Nixon. His Secret Service nickname is distinctly ironic, particularly in light of the Watergate scandal that ended his presidency, according to Time magazine and others.
Sunburn
Sen. Ted Kennedy. This code name humorously references the pale complexion of the Irish-Catholic New Englander during his 1980 presidential campaign, as mentioned in Time Magazine.
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Tempo
First lady Laura Bush, married to Trailblazer.
Timberwolf
President George H.W. Bush. This nickname might symbolize his role as the patriarch of a political family.
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Trailblazer
President George W. Bush. A name considered “complimentary,” as noted by Britannica.
Former President George W. Bush gives a thumbs up before a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, on May 1, 2022. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Tranquility
First lady Barbara Bush, who is also the mother of another president. “Snowbank” was reportedly another code name used for her.
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Tumbler
Also assigned to George W. Bush when his father Timberwolf was in office.
