President Donald Trump has a serious iPhone problem, and it could be huge issue for U.S. national security.
Despite being warned by security advisers, Trump continues to use an unsecured iPhone to talk with friends, colleagues and business partners — and China and Russia could be listening in on his calls.
According to a report from The New York Times, Trump’s aides have warned him multiple times that his calls are not secure and that Russian spies are eavesdropping on them. Trump has reportedly been urged to use the White House landline that is more secure, but he prefers gossiping on his personal phone.
Trump has two official iPhones
The National Security Agency gave Trump two official iPhones that have limited abilities and vulnerabilities. He reportedly prefers his personal iPhone because he can’t store his contacts in the NSA-approved devices.
Authorities within the White House allegedly leaked info about Trump’s iPhone use because they’re frustrated by his casual approach to security. “White House officials say they can only hope he refrains from discussing classified information when he is on them,” reports the Times.
U.S. spy agencies have found that both Russia and China are using information from Trump’s calls to try to gain influence on the president’s circle of trusted friends. By learning who Trump is talking with, and about what, both countries are able to create a ring of influencers and push policy ideas to them that are then floated to the president.
Update: China has responded to this report by calling it “fake news.”
Buster Hein is a freelance writer who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Twitter: @bst3r.
