Washington, Sept. 5 — U.S. Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance has claimed that Chinese hackers may have stolen private data from virtually every American citizen, including former President Donald Trump. The explosive assertion, made during a campaign stop on Thursday evening, adds fuel to ongoing debates about foreign cyber threats and America’s vulnerability to large-scale hacking operations.
Speaking to supporters in Ohio, Vance said intelligence briefings indicate that “no American was spared” in what he described as one of the largest cyber intrusions in history. “From ordinary citizens to past and current leaders, the evidence suggests China has access to data that should have been safeguarded by our government,” Vance said.
While Vance did not disclose the exact sources of his information, he pointed to long-standing concerns within the intelligence community about Beijing’s aggressive cyber operations. In 2015, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) breach exposed the records of nearly 22 million federal employees. More recently, Microsoft and other cybersecurity firms have reported targeted Chinese campaigns against U.S. infrastructure, corporations, and government agencies.
Cybersecurity experts caution against blanket claims but acknowledge the scale of possible infiltration. “It’s feasible that China has compiled data on nearly all Americans through both hacking and data scraping operations,” said Dr. Laura Bennett, a former Department of Homeland Security official. “The key issue is how such data could be weaponized — whether for espionage, economic advantage, or disinformation campaigns.”
Vance’s remarks come at a politically charged moment, as the U.S. prepares for the 2025 elections. Analysts note that framing China as a cyber adversary appeals to voter concerns about national security and foreign interference. Beijing, meanwhile, has repeatedly rejected U.S. accusations of state-backed hacking, calling them politically motivated.
The White House has yet to formally respond to Vance’s comments, though intelligence officials have previously acknowledged a surge in Chinese cyber activity. The Department of Justice has multiple open cases against alleged Chinese hackers tied to state-backed groups.
For now, the claim that every American’s data — even that of a former president — may be in foreign hands highlights the fragile state of digital security. Policy observers say it could renew calls for stronger federal action on cybersecurity.
“Americans need assurance that their privacy and national data are protected,” Bennett said. “Whether this claim proves fully accurate or not, the underlying threat is real.”
