Andy Burnham fooled into texting individual pretending to be Trump aide
New Prime Minister Andy Burnham was reportedly involved in a security breach that saw him text an unknown hoaxer who he believed was White House chief of staff Susie Wiles
Burnham is believed to have messaged an unknown hoaxer(Image: Getty Images)
Prime Minister Andy Burnham was tricked into texting an unknown number pretending to be a Donald Trump’s Chief of Staff, it has been claimed.
While Downing Street has refused to give information on the potentially concerning security breach, saying that they will not comment on “national security matters”, a report in Politico states that the hoaxer, who has not been identified publicly, managed to exchange messages with Burnham directly while pretending to be key Trump ally and White House official Susie Wiles.
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.”
Wiles is a long time ally of Donald Trump and managed his election campaign (Image: AP)
Sources reportedly stated that “No messages of significance” and that the breach was “quickly reported to the appropriate authorities”.
It is not been confirmed exactly how the hoaxer managed to deceive the PM. However, in May 2025 an FBI investigation claimed that efforts may have been made by one or more people to access the chief of staff’s phone, after she told people that her mobile had been hacked and an impersonator had messaged other key officials on her behalf.
In response to the 2025 hack, a White House spokesperson said: “The White House takes the cybersecurity of all staff very seriously, and this matter continues to be investigated.”
Downing Street have not commented on the issue (Image: Finnbarr Webster/PA Wire)
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.”
The White House has not yet commented on the recent breach, and there has been no indication at this stage 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 White House has also not commented on the incident(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The strategist, who also worked with Ronald Reagan, became the first female Chief of Staff back 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,” he continued. “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”.
