UK Prime Minister says he handled fake Trump aide message correctly
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the brief exchange with someone posing as Donald Trump’s chief of staff involved no substantive information and was promptly reported, while opposition members called for an inquiry into the security lapse.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham told broadcasters that a recent message exchange with an individual impersonating Donald Trump’s senior adviser involved only minimal, non-substantive information and was reported immediately. He said he was not embarrassed by the incident and that he had acted appropriately.
The episode, first reported by POLITICO, involved a person pretending to be Susie Wiles, a top Trump aide who has previously been the target of a phone hack. Burnham said the interaction contained “zero consequence” and was quickly disclosed to authorities.
The incident has prompted concerns about potential vulnerabilities in the communications of senior officials. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting was among three cabinet ministers whose contact details were found online by the same outlet.
Liberal Democrat MP James MacCleary wrote to the chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee, describing the episode as a “dangerous security breach” and urging an inquiry. He said the security of the prime minister’s communications should be an absolute priority and suggested that standard protective measures may not have been followed.
Burnham declined to comment on whether government procedures will be revised, but maintained that “the correct action has been taken here and in the U.S.”