US authorities have raised alarms regarding cybercriminal activity linked to China, which may have targeted the communication devices of former President Donald Trump and Senator JD Vance, according to multiple sources. This revelation comes as the Trump-Vance campaign was informed that their phones might be part of a wider cyber attack.
Reports indicate that individuals connected to the Harris-Walz campaign were also on the hackers’ radar, highlighting the broad scope of the attempted intrusion. However, details remain murky concerning the extent of any data breaches.
Both the Department of Justice and the FBI have refrained from confirming specific targets among the candidates. In a collaborative statement, the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) acknowledged an active investigation into unauthorized access to telecommunications infrastructures associated with actors from China. They indicated that once this “malicious activity” was detected, affected companies were promptly alerted and provided technical support to mitigate potential damage.
The agencies emphasized ongoing efforts across the US government to tackle this emerging threat, coordinating with industry partners to bolster cybersecurity measures within the telecommunications sector.
In response to the intrusion, the Trump campaign has accused Democrats of orchestrating the incident, alleging—without substantiating evidence—that it aims to thwart Trump’s return to the presidency. Law enforcement is treating the event as an act of espionage rather than a campaign interference attempt.
Recent reports reveal that US telecommunications providers, including Verizon, have been victims of a significant cyber assault. A Verizon representative confirmed awareness of the sophisticated threat and stated the company is cooperating with law enforcement to resolve the situation.
This incident marks another chapter in a series of cyber threats facing the Trump campaign, which previously endured a hacking attempt linked to Iranian nationals aimed at destabilizing a presidential campaign earlier this year.
US officials have consistently warned about the risks of foreign interference in American elections. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan stated that adversaries view US elections as opportunities to influence and undermine democratic processes. Discussions in Congress earlier this year included warnings from FBI Director Christopher Wray about Chinese hackers poised to cause considerable harm to US interests.
