Chinese hackers have reportedly breached the phones of former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as they campaign ahead of the upcoming election.
According to sources cited by The New York Times, hackers gained deep access to American communications networks, with Trump and Vance among their key targets.
This breach raises national security concerns, as the hackers may have accessed sensitive information, including call logs, contacts, and messages on the devices of both Trump and Vance. Investigators are now working to determine the extent of the compromise.
The Trump campaign was notified about the security threat earlier this week. This latest breach highlights a growing trend of foreign interference, with China and Iran actively targeting U.S. political campaigns.
“After the FBI identified specific malicious activity targeting the sector, the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) immediately notified affected companies, rendered technical assistance, and rapidly shared information to assist other potential victims,” the FBI and CISA told Fox News.
The Trump campaign blamed the Biden administration and Vice President Kamala Harris over the attack.
“This is the continuation of election interference by Kamala Harris and Democrats who will stop at nothing, including emboldening China and Iran attacking critical American infrastructure, to prevent President Trump from returning to the White House,” Steven Cheung, communications director for the Trump campaign, told Fox News.
“Their dangerous and violent rhetoric has given permission to those who wish to harm President Trump,” Cheung added
Just weeks before this reported Chinese hack, Iranian hackers attempted to access devices linked to Trump’s campaign, intending to leak sensitive information to news outlets.
This hack culminated in the release of a dossier on Vance by a left-leaning blogger, which exposed his home address and other personal details.
In addition to cyber threats, Trump has recently faced two assassination attempts, allegedly from Iran, following the U.S.-led drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.
Iran has reportedly targeted both Trump and several of his former staff members in retaliation.
These incidents underline the risks of cyber warfare as well as physical threats faced by political figures.
The infiltration of U.S. phone systems underscores vulnerabilities within American digital infrastructure, especially given the involvement of large network carriers like Verizon.
As the election approaches, cybersecurity is a central concern, with both China and Iran stepping up efforts to influence or disrupt American political processes.
In 2016, the Democratic candidate for president, Hillary Clinton, and the DNC infamously had their emails hacked by Russia and released through Wikileaks during the election.