Prime Minister Andy Burnham was tricked into texting an unknown number pretending to be Donald Trump's chief of staff, it has been claimed. Downing Street has refused to comment on the potential security breach, saying it will not discuss "national security matters", but a report in Politico states the hoaxer exchanged messages with Burnham directly while posing as White House official Susie Wiles.
Messages exchanged before suspicion
According to the report, the Labour leader had a back-and-forth discussion over message with the number "before becoming suspicious that the contact was illegitimate." Sources reportedly stated that "no messages of significance" were exchanged and that the breach was "quickly reported to the appropriate authorities."
Previous hacking incident
It has not been confirmed how the hoaxer managed to deceive the PM. However, in May 2025 an FBI investigation claimed that efforts may have been made to access Wiles's phone, after she told people her mobile had been hacked and an impersonator had messaged other key officials on her behalf. In response to that hack, a White House spokesperson said: "The White House takes the cybersecurity of all staff very seriously, and this matter continues to be investigated." FBI director Kash Patel said in a statement to CBS News: "The FBI takes all threats against the President, his staff, and our cybersecurity with the utmost seriousness; safeguarding our administration officials' ability to securely communicate to accomplish the President's mission is a top priority."
No comment on recent breach
The White House has not yet commented on the recent breach, and there has been no indication as to who was behind the incident or what the potential motivation might have been. Susie Wiles, 69, is a long-time ally of Donald Trump and one of the White House's most senior figures, having previously been his campaign manager at the most recent US election. The strategist, who also worked with Ronald Reagan, became the first female chief of staff in 2024. Following his election success, Trump said of Wiles: "It is a well deserved honour to have Susie as the first-ever female chief of staff in United States history. I have no doubt that she will make our country proud. She just helped me achieve one of the greatest political victories in American history and is tough, smart, innovative, and is universally admired and respected."
