Go to today's feed

British Prime Minister Exchanged Messages With Impersonator of Top Trump Aide

General10 sourcesAug 17, 2026
Center-LeftRigor 6010 sources

The Story

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham exchanged messages with an individual impersonating White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. The exchange, described as a few messages of no significance, occurred after Burnham became prime minister in July. Burnham began to suspect the contact was illegitimate during the conversation. The British embassy in Washington raised the incident with the White House due to concerns that Wiles' phone may have been hacked again. Last May, the FBI and White House investigated a similar incident where an impersonator used Wiles' contacts to reach out to other officials. The White House has stated it takes the cybersecurity of its staff seriously. Downing Street declined to comment on national security matters. The timing and content of the messages between Burnham and the impersonator remain unclear.

The Spread

What they agree on

  • Andy Burnham exchanged messages with someone impersonating White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
  • The exchange involved a "few messages" that were described as being "of no significance."
  • The British embassy in Washington raised the incident with the White House.
  • A similar incident involving an impersonator of Susie Wiles occurred in May 2025, prompting an FBI investigation.
  • Government spokespersons declined to comment on national security matters.

Where they split

  • Some outlets, such as GB News, frame the event as "mistakenly" exchanged messages, while others focus on the impersonation aspect.
  • The Daily Beast includes the age of Susie Wiles (68) and Donald Trump (80), which is not present in all reports.
  • Coverage varies in the detail provided about the previous Wiles impersonation incident, with some articles referencing The Wall Street Journal and others citing CBS News' partner network BBC News.
  • Some articles, like The Herald (Scotland) and The National (Scotland), include extensive details about unrelated stories concerning the Rosebank oil field and environmental concerns, while others focus solely on the impersonation incident.

Source Perspectives

Left6 sources
Center3 sources
Right1 source