Online sleuths have flagged a potential security breach after White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles was photographed wearing a WHOOP fitness tracker while President Donald Trump oversaw military strikes on Iran from his Mar-a-Lago residence. The image, released by the White House, showed Wiles next to Trump in the makeshift situation room during the operation conducted with Israel on Saturday.
Critics argued that the device's Bluetooth capabilities could pose a security risk, suggesting it might be hacked or controlled remotely during the sensitive military mission. However, WHOOP CEO quickly clarified that the tracker lacks a microphone, GPS, or cellular capability, and noted it is on the National Security Agency's list of approved devices for White House and government staff.
The White House defended Wiles, stating that WHOOP products are 'secure by design' and have been approved by the NSA. The incident comes as Trump transformed his Florida resort into a war room for the strikes, which targeted Tehran and other Iranian cities, drawing international attention.
Despite the controversy, Trump reportedly planned to host a $1 million per head fundraising dinner for his super PAC later that evening, as news of the strikes and the status of Iran's supreme leader emerged.
