The U.S. Secret Service assigned code names to Republican presidential hopefuls Ben Carson and Donald Trump (seen above at the fourth Republican debate on Nov. 10), now called Eli and Mogul respectively. Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI |
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- The U.S. Secret Service assigned code names to leading Republican presidential hopefuls Ben Carson and Donald Trump, now called Eli and Mogul respectively.
Beginning early Wednesday, the candidates will be called by their code names during their Secret Service protection while campaigning. If elected, the name will stick. The Secret Service said the nicknames make it easier for agents to identify those under their protection.
Trump and Carson picked their monikers from a list of options chosen by the Secret Service, in consultation with the White House Communications Agency, a military agency in the White House. All of Carson's choices started with "e," so he chose Eli, a name with a biblical connotation. Trump's list started with the letter "m."
The names are a far cry from the tongue-in-cheek signatures the candidates chose during the September presidential debate. Trump thought Humble was a good name for him, while Carson opted for One Nation.
Some of the more recent Secret Service code names:
President Barack Obama -- Renegade
First lady Michelle Obama -- Renaissance
Malia Obama -- Radiance
Sasha Obama -- Rosebud
Vice President Joe Biden -- Celtic
Jill Biden -- Capri
Former President Bill Clinton -- Eagle
Former first lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton -- Evergreen
Chelsea Clinton -- Energy
Vice President Al Gore -- Sawhorse/Sundance
Tipper Gore -- Skylark
Karenna Gore -- Smurfette
Former President George W. Bush -- Tumbler/Trailblazer
Former first lady Laura Bush -- Tempo
Barbara Bush (daughter) -- Turquoise
Jenna Bush -- Twinkle
Vice President Dick Cheney -- Angler/Backseat
Lynne Cheney -- Author
Other names given to those closely affiliated with the White House:
Singer Frank Sinatra -- Napoleon
Actor Antonio Banderas -- Zorro
Pope John Paul II -- Halo
Roger Clinton (President Clinton's half-brother) -- Headache
Sen. Ted Kennedy -- Sunburn
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich -- T-Rex
Ron Nessen (President Gerald Ford's former press secretary) -- Clam Chowder