The Trump campaign has become the latest target of alleged cyberattacks, this time by Chinese hackers, according to reports. The FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) are currently investigating unauthorized access to commercial telecommunications infrastructure, which they believe was carried out by Chinese actors.
The New York Times, citing sources familiar with the matter, reported that the Trump campaign was informed this week about the potential breach of cellphones belonging to former President Trump and his running mate, JD Vance. While the full extent of the alleged hacking remains unclear, investigators are working to determine if any sensitive data was stolen.
The Trump campaign, in a swift response, has blamed the Biden administration and Vice President Kamala Harris for the alleged attack. Steven Cheung, communications director for the Trump campaign, accused the administration of allowing foreign adversaries to target American infrastructure and interfere in the 2024 election. Cheung claims this is part of a broader strategy to prevent President Trump from returning to the White House.
This incident comes after previous attempts by Iranian hackers to target the Trump campaign in 2020 and 2023. In September 2023, three hackers with alleged ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were indicted for their involvement in a hacking plot against the Trump campaign. The FBI believes these hackers engaged in a wide-ranging hacking campaign that targeted officials, media members, and individuals associated with U.S. political campaigns.
The Trump campaign is now calling for the FBI to disclose details about the alleged Chinese hacking, drawing parallels with the Iranian hacking attempts. The campaign’s accusation of the Biden administration’s complicity adds a layer of political tension to the situation.
This is not the first time foreign powers have attempted to influence US elections through cyberattacks. In 2016, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Hillary Clinton’s campaign were targeted by Russian hackers, resulting in the release of emails through WikiLeaks during the election. This incident raised serious concerns about the vulnerability of US political campaigns and the potential for foreign interference in elections.
The FBI and CISA have urged organizations that believe they may be victims of the alleged Chinese hacking to contact their local FBI field office or CISA. They are actively working to mitigate this threat and strengthen cyber defenses across the commercial communications sector.
The Trump campaign has also reached out to the Harris campaign for comment. This ongoing investigation raises important questions about the security of US infrastructure and the ongoing efforts to safeguard against foreign interference in elections.