WASHINGTON • White House officials believe the US Chief of Staff John Kelly's personal mobile phone was compromised, raising concerns that hackers or foreign governments may have had access to data on the phone, Politico reported on Thursday.

The suspected breach could have happened as long ago as December, Politico reported, citing US government officials.

Mr Kelly, a retired Marine Corps general, joined the Trump administration in January as Secretary of Homeland Security.

He became White House chief of staff in July.

Politico reported that the suspected breach was discovered after Mr Kelly turned his phone over to White House tech support this summer complaining that it was not working or properly updating software.

It was unclear what, if any, data may have been accessed, Politico reported.

REUTERS