Published 17:09 IST, September 4th 2024
Trump Family's Social Media Accounts Hacked in Cryptocurrency Scam
The compromised accounts belonged to Lara Trump, co-chair of the Republican National Committee, and Tiffany Trump, the daughter of Donald Trump.
In a surprising and embarrassing breach for the Trump family, hackers reportedly gained access to the social media accounts of Lara Trump and Tiffany Trump on Tuesday, using them to distribute fake posts that promoted a fraudulent cryptocurrency venture. The compromised accounts belonged to Lara Trump, co-chair of the Republican National Committee, and Tiffany Trump, the youngest daughter of former President Donald Trump.
The unauthorized posts appeared on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, which is owned by Elon Musk—a close ally of the former president. The posts quickly drew attention, leading Eric Trump, the former president’s son, to take to X himself to discredit the content.
“This is a scam!!!” Eric Trump wrote, emphasizing that both Lara and Tiffany Trump’s accounts had been compromised. “@LaraLeaTrump and @TiffanyATrump‘s Twitter profiles have been compromised!!”
Within minutes of Eric Trump's statement, the fraudulent posts were removed, and the affected accounts were locked down to prevent further unauthorized access. Eric Trump praised the quick response by the platform, posting that “@twitter was amazing” in handling the situation.
Here is what you need to know
The breach marks a significant security lapse for the Trump family, especially considering the close relationship between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, who acquired X in 2022 and has been a vocal supporter of Trump’s ongoing presidential campaign. This incident follows closely on the heels of another cybersecurity issue within the Trump campaign. Nearly a month ago, the campaign confirmed that some of its internal communications had been compromised. U.S. intelligence officials attributed those hacks to Iran, noting that the targets included not only Trump campaign officials but also those associated with Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign.
The swift action taken by X to secure the accounts is likely to prevent further damage, but the incident highlights the persistent cybersecurity threats facing high-profile political figures and their families. As the 2024 presidential race heats up, it is expected that such attacks may increase in frequency and sophistication, posing significant challenges for those in the political arena.
The Trump family has not yet released an official statement regarding the incident, but the breach underscores the need for enhanced security measures to protect against future attacks.
Updated 17:09 IST, September 4th 2024