Chicago – August 17, 2026
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham exchanged messages with an individual posing as Susie Wiles, White House chief of staff to US President Donald Trump, according to reports.
The contact was reportedly discovered after concerns were raised about the identity of the person communicating with Burnham. Officials said no messages of significance were exchanged and that the suspicious activity was quickly reported to the relevant authorities.
The British embassy in Washington was sufficiently concerned to raise the matter with the White House, Politico reported, citing officials familiar with the incident. The UK government declined to comment, saying it does not discuss national-security matters.
It remains unclear when the messages were sent, how the communication began or what subjects were discussed. Burnham became prime minister on July 20 after succeeding Keir Starmer.
The incident follows previous concerns surrounding attempts to impersonate or access Wiles. The Wall Street Journal reported last year that the FBI had investigated efforts to access her phone after someone pretending to be her contacted prominent Republican figures and business leaders.
Security experts have repeatedly warned that senior political officials are vulnerable to identity fraud through messaging platforms, particularly when personal contact details circulate widely.
