Why the Trump team reportedly dumped burner phones after China trip
U.S. officials travelling with President Donald Trump reportedly discarded burner phones and other items handed out during a visit to China before boarding Air Force One, amid lingering concerns over surveillance and cyber-espionage.
The account emerged from a social media post by Emily Goodin, White House correspondent for the New York Post, who said American staff collected “everything Chinese officials handed out” — including delegation credentials, burner phones and pins — before throwing them into a bin at the bottom of the aircraft stairs.
“Nothing from China allowed on the plane,” Goodin wrote on X as the delegation prepared to depart for the United States.
The White House has not officially confirmed the report, although such precautions are not uncommon during high-level visits involving geopolitical rivals.
The episode comes against the backdrop of longstanding tensions between Washington and Beijing over cybersecurity, espionage and allegations of state-backed hacking.
During the return flight, Trump was asked whether he had discussed reported Chinese cyberattacks targeting the United States with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“I did. And he talked about attacks we did in China,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. “What they do, we do too. We spy like hell on them too.”
Similar security measures were reportedly adopted earlier this year by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s delegation during a trip to China.
According to a report by Canada’s National Post, officials travelling with Carney used burner phones throughout the visit, while personal and work devices were powered down and stored inside Faraday bags before entering Chinese airspace.
The burner phones were reportedly surrendered once the delegation had left Chinese airspace.
The measures reflect growing caution among Western governments over digital surveillance risks during official visits to China, particularly as concerns over cyber intrusions continue to strain relations between major powers.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
