British Prime Minister Andy Burnham exchanged messages with someone impersonating White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, according to reports citing multiple officials.
The interaction occurred shortly after Burnham entered 10 Downing Street on July 20, with officials describing the messages as ‘of no significance’. Burnham reportedly grew suspicious during the exchange, which did not escalate to a phone call.
Government response
A spokesperson for Burnham’s office stated, ‘We do not comment on national security matters.’ The British embassy in Washington raised the incident with the White House, according to officials cited by Politico. The FBI had previously launched an investigation in May 2025 after similar impersonation attempts targeting Wiles’ contacts.
Background on the impersonation
In May 2025, reports indicated that an unknown actor accessed Wiles’ personal cellphone and used her contacts to message US senators, governors, and business executives. The FBI confirmed an ongoing investigation at the time, with a White House spokesperson stating, ‘The White House takes the cybersecurity of all staff very seriously, and this matter continues to be investigated.’
Historical context
This incident follows a pattern of similar hoaxes targeting high-ranking officials. In June 2024, Russian pranksters released footage of a video call with then-foreign secretary David Cameron, who believed he was speaking to a former Ukrainian president.
What remains unclear
No details have been disclosed about the content of the messages exchanged between Burnham and the impersonator, nor the exact timing of the interaction. Authorities have not confirmed whether Wiles’ phone was compromised again.