Trump’s campaign has been hacked, according to reports
The Trump campaign recently made a startling announcement over the weekend, revealing that their internal systems had been breached by hackers. The campaign suggested that Iranian actors may have been involved in the theft and distribution of sensitive documents. While no concrete evidence was provided pointing to Iran’s involvement, this claim follows a recent report by Microsoft highlighting foreign attempts to interfere in the upcoming 2024 U.S. presidential campaign.
Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign, pointed fingers at “foreign sources hostile to the United States” for the hack. The National Security Council, however, deferred to the Justice Department for further investigation, while the FBI chose not to comment on the matter.
In response to the breach, a statement from the NSC condemned any foreign entity attempting to undermine the U.S. electoral process or erode confidence in democratic institutions. The hack was first reported by Politico, which began receiving emails from an anonymous source on July 22. The emails contained what seemed to be a research dossier on Senator JD Vance of Ohio, Trump’s chosen vice presidential nominee. Cheung emphasized that these documents were illegally obtained and intended to disrupt the upcoming election.
Referring to the Microsoft report released the day prior, Cheung emphasized the timing of the Iranian hackers’ actions coinciding with President Trump’s selection of his running mate. He mentioned that reprinting or circulating these stolen documents only served the interests of America’s adversaries.
Iran’s United Nations mission denied any intentions of interfering or conducting cyberattacks in the U.S. elections. However, U.S. officials, including those from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, FBI, and Department of Homeland Security, have highlighted Iran’s efforts to undermine Trump’s candidacy.
Regarding interactions with Microsoft, Cheung did not immediately respond to queries. Microsoft, too, opted not to comment further beyond their initial blog post and report. The report outlined foreign influence in the 2024 election, with Iranian activity gaining momentum alongside Russian operations.
The analysis indicated that Iranian cyber-enabled campaigns have been a consistent presence in recent U.S. election cycles. Microsoft concluded that Iran and Russia might play pivotal roles in influencing the 2024 elections, with confirmed phishing attempts by an Iranian military intelligence unit, Mint Sandstorm, targeting a presidential campaign.
Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign has not yet responded to the reported hacking incident or revealed specifics about their cybersecurity measures. The situation surrounding the breach remains highly concerning, demonstrating the potential for foreign interference in the upcoming U.S. elections.
