Prime Minister Andy Burnham has stated he is not embarrassed after falling victim to a hoaxer who posed as a top White House aide. The individual impersonated Susie Wiles, Donald Trump's chief of staff, engaging in message exchanges that began before Burnham became Prime Minister and continued after he took office on July 20.
Burnham, speaking from Wolverhampton bus station, told broadcasters that the exchange was minimal, involved no consequential information, and was quickly reported. "I handled it in the right way," he said. "All politicians are receiving these pressures and these challenges, but I did everything right."
The British embassy in Washington was compelled to alert the White House to the incident. Security experts have suggested the tactic could be linked to Iran, while Whitehall sources indicated it may have been orchestrated within the U.S.
Professor Anthony Glees, a security and intelligence expert from the University of Buckingham, described the event as a significant security concern, particularly as the messages were exchanged over several days by someone believed to be in a position of power. "To be duped like this is not a good look," Glees commented, adding that individuals responsible for Burnham's security, GCHQ, and the FBI have explanations to provide.
Susie Wiles' phone was reportedly hacked in May of the previous year by an impersonator who used her contacts to message other U.S. officials, potentially using AI to mimic her voice. Wiles had previously been targeted by a cyber espionage unit associated with Iran's Revolutionary Guards in 2024, which infiltrated her emails before the 2024 election.
The White House stated that the incident was unrelated to Wiles' devices being hacked. President Trump, when questioned about the matter, referred to it as a "miscommunication."
Burnham's experience echoes past incidents involving public figures. Former foreign secretary David Cameron was impersonated by callers posing as the president of Ukraine and the head of GCHQ. Prince Harry was notably tricked by Russian hoaxers in 2020, discussing President Trump and the royal family. Former U.S. Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin was also pranked by Canadian comedians impersonating French President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2008.