President Trump criticized a New York Times report about his personal cellphone usage on Thursday for being “so incorrect” and denied using anything but a government-issued phone.
“I only use Government Phones, and have only one seldom used government cell phone,” Mr. Trump tweeted. “Story is soooo wrong!”
The so-called experts on Trump over at the New York Times wrote a long and boring article on my cellphone usage that is so incorrect I do not have time here to correct it. I only use Government Phones, and have only one seldom used government cell phone. Story is soooo wrong!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 25, 2018
The president’s post directly contradicted The New York Times’ reporting that warned China and Russia are spying on the president when he uses a personal iPhone.
While he was “glad they finally added China,” Mr. Trump said the report was entirely “Fake News.”
The New York Times has a new Fake Story that now the Russians and Chinese (glad they finally added China) are listening to all of my calls on cellphones. Except that I rarely use a cellphone, & when I do it’s government authorized. I like Hard Lines. Just more made up Fake News!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 25, 2018
Several unnamed officials expressed their frustration to The Times and said the president has ignored several warnings that his communications are likely accessed by foreign adversaries.
The president reportedly has three iPhones — two secured by the National Security Agency and with normal capabilities — although The Times noted that all of his iPhones are vulnerable to cyberattacks.
They explained that China and Russia were able to listen in on Mr. Trump’s calls via human sources in foreign governments.
China, the officials said, is trying to glean how to manipulate the president to avoid making the trade war worse and has already compiled a list of people Mr. Trump often talks to. Two of the individuals China hopes to use are Stephen Schwarzman and Steven Wynn, The Times noted.
The lawyer for Mr. Wynn, former casino mogul in Las Vegas, did not give a comment.
However, a spokesperson for the Blackstone Group, where Mr. Schwarzman is a chief executive, said he “has been happy to serve as an intermediary on certain critical matters between the two countries at the request of both heads of state.”
The spokesperson did not tell The Times anything on the specific issue of China trying to use Mr. Schwarzman to influence the president.
Mr. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to meet in November at the G-20 summit.
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.