As 'security risk' claims about Susie Wiles go viral; CEO comes out to clarify: It is not Apple Watch, it is called Whoop and is NSA-approved

A photo of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles wearing a wearable device at a meeting sparked online claims that she had breached US security rules by wearing an Apple Watch. The photo was soon circulated widely on social media with some users claiming that the device could pose security risks.

However, the chief executive of the wearable’s maker said the speculation was wrong and clarified what the device actually is.

In response to the online discussion, Will Ahmed, the founder and CEO of fitness wearable company Whoop, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that the device worn by Wiles is a Whoop tracker, not an Apple Watch. He said the Whoop tracker is approved by the National Security Agency and does not include a microphone, GPS or cellular connection.

“It’s called a whoop. It does not include a microphone, GPS, or cellular capability of any kind and has long been on the NSA approved PED list. Given today’s performance, it’s likely she had a green recovery, low RHR, and high HRV,” Ahmed wrote in the post.Will Ahmed was responding to a post with a photo of Susie Wiles wearing the device. The photo was taken during a high-level meeting as the U.S. military carried out strikes in the Middle East.

Some social media users raised concerns because smartwatches and similar devices are often restricted in secure or classified environments due to their ability to record and connect to networks.

What the company says

Whoop makes subscription-based fitness trackers that monitor sleep, stress and recovery. Ahmed said the tracker’s main functions are health-related, such as tracking heart rate and recovery after physical activity.

He added there was “no story” in the image beyond Wiles wearing the fitness device.The clarification from Whoop’s CEO appeared to put to rest some of the online claims about a security breach. The company has not commented beyond saying the device shown is a Whoop wearable, and government officials have not made further statements on the matter.