New Delhi, March 15 -- In Donald Trump's Washington DC, the most coveted asset is not a government contract, a Cabinet appointment, or even a seat at a state dinner. It is a 10-digit number - one that, in the right hands, at the right moment, can move financial markets, reshape foreign policy, and generate front-page news within minutes, according to an investigation by The Atlantic.

According to a detailed investigation by The Atlantic, the White House has received reports in recent weeks that Trump's personal mobile number has been quietly offered for sale to wealthy interests seeking direct access to the president. Two senior administration officials, speaking anonymously, confirmed the reports - and their alarm was barely concealed....