Trump’s press secretary appears to reveal president’s bank details to world’s cameras
The White House press secretary accidentally disclosed Donald Trump’s personal bank details while touting a cheque penned by the president.
Kayleigh McEnany unwittingly managed to broadcast Mr Trump’s bank account and routing number – key details which could be utilised to hack into someone’s bank account to commit fraud – to viewers around the world.
Ms McEnany brandished a $100,000 cheque as she declared the president would be giving away his quarterly pay cheque to the Department of Health and Human Services to “support the efforts being undertaken to confront, contain and combat the coronavirus” during a press conference on Friday.
Mike Chapple, academic director of Notre Dame’s Master of Science in Business Analytics programme, told the New York Times this demonstrates why oversized cheques are wielded on television.
1/11
A demonstrator shouts next to two masked security guards at the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan during a protest against stay-at-home orders
AFP via Getty Images
2/11
Armed members of a milita group at the state Capitol building in Lansing, Michiga, during a protest against coronavirus lockdown measures
REUTERS
3/11
A protester at the state Capitol in Lansing holds a sign comparing Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer to Adolf Hitler during a demonstration against coronavirus lockdown measures
AFP via Getty Images
4/11
An armed protester takes part in a demonstation against lockdown measures at the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan
AP
5/11
A protester holds a sign saying ‘Bill Gates is evil’ at a demonstration against stay-at-home orders at the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan. Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and a billionaire philanthropist, has warned of the dangers of viral pandemics
AFP via Getty Images
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Protesters take part in a demonstration at the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan against stay-at-home orders
AFP/Getty
7/11
A protester holds a pro-Trump sign at a demonstration against lockdown measures outside the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan
AFP via Getty Images
8/11
Armed protesters take part in a demonstration at the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan against lockdown measures during the coronavirus pandemic
AFP via Getty Images
9/11
A protester holds a sign reading ‘Every job is essential, get workers back to work safely now’ during a demonstration at the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan over lockdown measures
AFP via Getty Images
10/11
A protester with a US flag painted on her face takes part in a demonstration at the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan against lockdown measures during the coronavirus pandemic
AFP via Getty Images
11/11
A protester wearing a Guy Fawkes mask holds up a sign reading ‘Stay Free’ during a demonstration against lockdown measures at the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan
AP
1/11
A demonstrator shouts next to two masked security guards at the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan during a protest against stay-at-home orders
AFP via Getty Images
2/11
Armed members of a milita group at the state Capitol building in Lansing, Michiga, during a protest against coronavirus lockdown measures
REUTERS
3/11
A protester at the state Capitol in Lansing holds a sign comparing Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer to Adolf Hitler during a demonstration against coronavirus lockdown measures
AFP via Getty Images
4/11
An armed protester takes part in a demonstation against lockdown measures at the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan
AP
5/11
A protester holds a sign saying ‘Bill Gates is evil’ at a demonstration against stay-at-home orders at the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan. Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and a billionaire philanthropist, has warned of the dangers of viral pandemics
AFP via Getty Images
6/11
Protesters take part in a demonstration at the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan against stay-at-home orders
AFP/Getty
7/11
A protester holds a pro-Trump sign at a demonstration against lockdown measures outside the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan
AFP via Getty Images
8/11
Armed protesters take part in a demonstration at the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan against lockdown measures during the coronavirus pandemic
AFP via Getty Images
9/11
A protester holds a sign reading ‘Every job is essential, get workers back to work safely now’ during a demonstration at the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan over lockdown measures
AFP via Getty Images
10/11
A protester with a US flag painted on her face takes part in a demonstration at the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan against lockdown measures during the coronavirus pandemic
AFP via Getty Images
11/11
A protester wearing a Guy Fawkes mask holds up a sign reading ‘Stay Free’ during a demonstration against lockdown measures at the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan
AP
The professor said: “They’re not only a nice prop onstage, but they also omit the sensitive account information that normally appears at the bottom. The rest of us should play it safe and keep our account numbers to ourselves.”
It comes after Mr Trump announced he is classifying all sites of worship – including mosques, churches, and synagogues – “essential” during the Covid-19 emergency.
The world leader, who said he wants them to “open right now”, hit out at state leaders for allowing “liquor stores and abortion centres” to remain open during the coronavirus crisis while simultaneously shutting houses of worship.
However, Ms McEnany swiftly clarified that it would be a matter for religious chiefs and state officials to decide whether to open up religious sites.
