Chinese hackers have reportedly aimed their attacks at the cellphones belonging to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance, according to several sources familiar with the situation. This news emerged on Friday, although it is currently uncertain if any data was compromised during the breach. Investigations are underway, as officials emphasize the ongoing and sensitive nature of this matter, leading sources to remain unnamed.
While the FBI did not specifically confirm that Trump and Vance were targeted, an official statement indicated that they are looking into “unauthorized access to commercial telecommunications infrastructure” that may involve actors linked to China. The FBI further assured the public of their commitment to addressing this issue, stating that various agencies within the U.S. government are working in unison to counter this threat while working closely with industry partners to bolster cybersecurity measures across the commercial communications sector.
U.S. officials believe that other individuals, in addition to Trump and Vance, also had their phone numbers targeted. This incident is suspected to be part of a wider espionage initiative orchestrated by China. The New York Times was the first to report on these events, indicating that the Trump campaign received advisories from U.S. officials earlier this week regarding the ongoing threat.
Trump’s campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, did not provide specific details regarding the Chinese cyber operation but claimed that the campaign of Democrat Kamala Harris has emboldened foreign powers, including both China and Iran, in their malicious activities.
The FBI has consistently raised alarms about Chinese hacking operations over the past year. FBI Director Chris Wray testified before Congress in January that the bureau had disrupted a state-sponsored group named Volt Typhoon, which targeted routers in American homes and businesses. Their ultimate objectives included critical facilities such as water treatment plants, electrical grids, and transportation systems across the country.
In a statement made last month, Wray noted that the FBI had thwarted another campaign associated with the Chinese government aimed at various organizations, including universities and governmental bodies. This operation was reported to have infected over 200,000 consumer devices—ranging from cameras to office routers—with harmful software.
