Trump Acknowledges Mutual US-China Cyber Espionage After Xi Talks
President Donald Trump revealed that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed mutual cyber espionage during recent bilateral talks in Beijing. Trump openly admitted that the United States conducts extensive spying on China, stating, "We spy like hell on them too," while claiming Xi tacitly acknowledged Chinese operations. This rare public confirmation highlights the intense digital rivalry between the two nations, contextualized by ongoing threats like the Volt Typhoon group targeting U.S. critical infrastructure. The remarks underscore a hardened diplomatic posture accepting reciprocal clandestine intelligence activities as a geopolitical reality.
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Trump Admits US Spies on China Amid Cyber Espionage Rivalry
US President Donald Trump candidly acknowledged that the United States conducts extensive cyber espionage against China, stating, "We spy like hell on them, too." This remark was made to reporters aboard Air Force One following a high-stakes diplomatic summit in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping. When questioned about Chinese cyberattacks on the US, Trump emphasized the reciprocal nature of intelligence gathering, noting that both nations engage in similar activities and describing the situation as a "double-edged sword." The article highlights the intense security measures taken by the US delegation during the visit, including leaving personal cell phones behind and using restricted "clean" devices to mitigate surveillance risks. Experts cited in the report warn that China represents one of the world's most aggressive cyber environments, where all communications are assumed to be monitored. Furthermore, upon departure, US officials discarded all items provided by Chinese hosts, such as temporary smartphones and gifts, into trash bins to prevent potential tracking or hacking. The report underscores the persistent and deep-seated cyber rivalry between the two superpowers, with each identifying the other as a top cyber threat.
NDTV News Search Records Found 1000Trump says he and Xi discussed US and Chinese cyberattacks and spying
President Donald Trump stated on May 15, 2026, that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed cyberattacks and espionage activities by both nations during their bilateral meeting. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump acknowledged that the US also conducts cyber operations against China, saying 'We spy like hell on them too.' He suggested Xi tacitly confirmed actions that lower-level Chinese officials routinely deny. The remarks mark a rare public acknowledgment of US clandestine cyber efforts. The article references ongoing Chinese intrusions into US telecommunications and critical infrastructure via the Volt Typhoon group, as well as suspected Chinese recruitment of former US officials. The White House and Chinese embassy did not immediately comment.
Defense One - All ContentTrump says he and Xi discussed US, Chinese cyberattacks and spying
President Donald Trump stated on May 15, 2026, that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed cyberattacks and espionage activities during their bilateral meeting. Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that Xi raised attacks the US conducted in China, and Trump acknowledged that the US also spies on China. The president suggested Xi tacitly confirmed actions that lower-level Chinese officials routinely deny. Trump did not specify particular cyber campaigns but referenced Chinese intrusions into US telecommunications and critical infrastructure by groups like Volt Typhoon. The remarks represent a rare public acknowledgment of US clandestine cyber operations. The article also notes ongoing Chinese espionage recruitment efforts targeting former US officials and the administration's push for offensive cyber capabilities.
Defense One - All ContentTrump Claims Mutual Cyber Espionage Acknowledged in Talks with Xi Jinping
During his return flight from a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, former U.S. President Donald Trump revealed that the two leaders discussed mutual cyberattacks and espionage activities. Trump stated that Xi tacitly acknowledged Chinese operations while also addressing U.S. actions, noting, "What they do, we do too." The President admitted to extensive U.S. spying on China, marking a rare public confirmation of American clandestine intelligence efforts. This dialogue occurs against a backdrop of heightened tensions, including reports of the Volt Typhoon group infiltrating U.S. critical infrastructure and recent Chinese recruitment attempts targeting former State Department officials. While Chinese officials typically deny such allegations, Trump's account suggests a candid exchange regarding state-sponsored hacking. The article highlights the complexities of attributing cyber operations and notes the U.S. administration's increasingly hardened stance on offensive cyber capabilities as part of its counterterrorism strategy. No immediate comments were provided by the White House or the Chinese embassy regarding these specific remarks.
Defense One - All ContentTrump Claims Xi Tacitly Acknowledged Cyber Espionage During Bilateral Talks
President Donald Trump revealed that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed mutual cyberattacks and espionage activities during their recent bilateral meeting. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump stated that Xi appeared to tacitly confirm Chinese hacking operations, a significant departure from the routine denials issued by lower-level Chinese officials. Trump admitted to reciprocal U.S. actions, noting, "We spy like hell on them too," and suggested that both nations engage in covert operations against each other. While Trump did not detail specific campaigns, the remarks highlight ongoing tensions regarding Chinese intrusions into U.S. critical infrastructure, such as those attributed to the Volt Typhoon group. The article contextualizes these comments within the broader scope of U.S. intelligence efforts, including CIA recruitment of Chinese assets, and the current administration's hardened stance on offensive cyber capabilities. This public acknowledgment underscores the complex diplomatic posture surrounding cyber warfare attribution and verification, marking a rare instance of a U.S. president openly discussing clandestine monitoring of a foreign adversary.
Defense One - All ContentTrump Acknowledges US Spying on China During Discussions with Xi Jinping
President Donald Trump revealed that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed mutual cyberattacks and espionage activities during their recent bilateral meeting. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump openly acknowledged that the United States conducts extensive spying operations against China, stating, "We spy like hell on them too." He noted that while China raised concerns about US attacks, he emphasized that both nations engage in such clandestine efforts. The remarks provide a rare public admission of US offensive cyber capabilities and intelligence gathering targeting Chinese networks. The article contextualizes these comments amidst ongoing concerns about Chinese cyber intrusions, specifically the Volt Typhoon group's infiltration of US critical infrastructure. It also highlights the CIA's active recruitment of Chinese assets and the Trump administration's strategy to employ offensive cyber tools against foreign threats. While Chinese officials typically deny hacking allegations, Trump's account suggests a candid exchange regarding the reality of mutual digital espionage between the two superpowers.
Nextgov/FCW - All ContentTrump Acknowledges US Spying on China During Discussions with Xi Jinping
President Donald Trump revealed that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed mutual cyberattacks and espionage activities during their recent bilateral meeting. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump openly acknowledged that the United States conducts extensive spying operations against China, stating, "We spy like hell on them too." He noted that while China raised issues about US attacks, both nations engage in similar clandestine efforts. This rare public admission highlights the covert operations deployed by US intelligence agencies like the NSA and CIA, which have recently intensified recruitment efforts targeting Chinese officials. The discussion occurs against a backdrop of significant Chinese cyber intrusions into US critical infrastructure, notably the Volt Typhoon campaign, which aims to potentially disrupt power grids and water systems. Although Trump did not confirm specific details of these intrusions, his remarks suggest a diplomatic posture that accepts mutual espionage as a reality. The article also contextualizes these comments within the Trump administration's second-term strategy, which involves a hardened approach to foreign hackers and the development of offensive cyber capabilities to counter threats from state actors and criminal groups.
Nextgov/FCW - All ContentTrump says he and Xi discussed US and Chinese cyberattacks and espionage
President Donald Trump stated that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed cyberattacks and espionage activities by both nations during their bilateral meeting. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump acknowledged that the US also engages in spying against China, saying 'We spy like hell on them too.' He suggested Xi tacitly confirmed actions that lower-level Chinese officials routinely deny. The remarks offer a rare public acknowledgment of US clandestine cyber operations. The article also references Chinese hacking groups like Volt Typhoon targeting US critical infrastructure, and recent Chinese recruitment efforts targeting former US officials. The White House and Chinese embassy did not comment.
Defense One - All ContentTrump says he and Xi discussed US and Chinese cyberattacks and spying
President Donald Trump stated that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed mutual cyberattacks and espionage during their bilateral meeting. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump acknowledged that both nations engage in spying and cyber operations against each other, saying 'We spy like hell on them too.' The remarks represent a rare public acknowledgment of US clandestine cyber activities. Trump appeared to suggest Xi tacitly confirmed Chinese hacking operations that lower-level officials routinely deny. The discussion comes amid ongoing concerns over Chinese intrusions into US critical infrastructure, including the Volt Typhoon group's activities. The White House and Chinese embassy did not immediately comment.
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