White House Investigating Phone Hack Targeting Trump's Chief of Staff
The White House is investigating after reports emerged that the personal phone of White House chief of staff Susie Wiles was hacked, with one or more individuals accessing her contacts and using the information to contact top officials and impersonate her. This is the second time Wiles has been targeted by hackers, following a reported attempt to compromise her personal email account in 2024.
The Wall Street Journal first broke the news, stating that hackers accessed Wiles' phone contacts, including the numbers of other top U.S. officials and influential individuals. According to reports, some of these contacts received phone calls impersonating Wiles, which used artificial intelligence (AI) to mimic her voice and sent text messages from a number not associated with Wiles.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly declined to comment on whether authorities had determined if a cloud account associated with Wiles' personal device was compromised or if Wiles' phone was targeted by a more advanced cyberattack, such as one that involves the use of government-grade spyware. However, she did confirm that the White House takes cybersecurity very seriously and that this matter is currently under investigation.
This incident marks the latest cybersecurity breach to affect the Trump administration since its inauguration in 2021. In March, former White House top national security adviser Michael Waltz mistakenly added a journalist to a Signal group of top White House officials, which included discussions of a planned military air-strike in Yemen. Reports later revealed that the government officials were using a Signal clone app called TeleMessage, which was designed to keep a copy of messages for government archiving.
TeleMessage was subsequently hacked on at least two occasions, revealing the contents of its users' private messages. This incident highlights the growing concern over cybersecurity in the Trump administration and the need for increased vigilance to protect sensitive information.
A Pattern of Cybersecurity Breaches
This incident is part of a larger pattern of cybersecurity breaches affecting the Trump administration. In 2024, The Washington Post reported that Iranian hackers had attempted to compromise Wiles' personal email account. Although it's unclear if the hack was successful, the incident raises concerns about the vulnerability of government officials' personal devices and communication channels.
Furthermore, in March, Waltz's mistake highlighted the risks associated with using Signal clone apps for official business. The incident also underscores the need for better cybersecurity protocols to protect sensitive information and prevent similar breaches in the future.
A Call for Increased Vigilance
The recent string of cybersecurity incidents affecting the White House and other government officials serves as a reminder of the importance of increased vigilance when it comes to protecting sensitive information. As the Trump administration continues to navigate the complexities of modern cybersecurity threats, it's clear that more needs to be done to prevent such breaches in the future.
By taking proactive measures to enhance cybersecurity protocols and educating officials on best practices, the White House can reduce the risk of similar incidents occurring in the future. As the administration moves forward, it's essential to prioritize cybersecurity awareness and take concrete steps to protect sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands.