Federal investigators are hunting down those who used AI to impersonate White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles in a sophisticated scheme targeting Republican lawmakers and business executives.
At a Glance
- The FBI is investigating an AI-powered impersonation of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles
- Prominent Republicans received texts and calls with an AI-generated voice mimicking Wiles
- Red flags emerged when the impersonator made unusual requests for money transfers
- Recipients noticed the fake Wiles used broken grammar and overly formal language
- This incident follows a previous hack of Wiles’s email by Iranian operatives
High-Tech Deception Targets White House Inner Circle
Federal authorities have investigated what appears to be a sophisticated impersonation campaign targeting White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. According to reports, numerous prominent Republican lawmakers and business executives received messages allegedly from Wiles, with many messages including voice communications that likely utilized artificial intelligence to replicate her voice. The scheme was initially convincing enough that many recipients believed they were communicating with the actual White House Chief of Staff.
The impersonator contacted targets with initially plausible requests, such as assembling lists of individuals for presidential pardons. However, suspicions arose when the fake Wiles failed to answer basic questions about President Trump that the real Wiles would certainly know. The impersonator also made unusual requests for financial transfers, a common red flag in scam attempts. The communications did not originate from Wiles’s phone number, though investigators still determine how the scammer obtained her contacts.
The FBI is investigating an impersonation scheme targeting White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles
An unknown individual, possibly using AI to mimic her voice, has contacted GOP lawmakers and execs posing as Wiles seeking pardons and cash transfers https://t.co/FSnjqnCnsS pic.twitter.com/TAtscZDV6z
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) May 30, 2025
Linguistic Clues Revealed the Deception
Recipients eventually noticed telltale signs that they were not communicating with the real Susie Wiles. The messages contained broken grammar and used language that was excessively formal, differing significantly from Wiles’s typical communication style. This linguistic inconsistency became one of the key indicators that helped recipients realize an impersonation scheme was targeting them. The Wall Street Journal first reported the story, bringing national attention to this cybersecurity breach.
“The FBI takes all threats against the President, his staff, and our cybersecurity with the utmost seriousness; safeguarding our administration officials’ ability to securely communicate to accomplish the President’s mission is a top priority,” said FBI Director Kash Patel.
U.S. intelligence agencies have joined the investigation, and Congressional members have been briefed on the situation. In response to the breach, the House sergeant at arms issued a notice about phishing emails and scam protection to members and staff, highlighting the serious nature of the security threat. This incident raises significant concerns about the potential for AI technologies to be weaponized against government officials and undermine secure communications.
Pattern of Targeting Trump Administration Officials
This is not the first time Wiles has been targeted by hackers. Iranian operatives previously gained access to her email in an earlier incident. The current impersonation follows a phishing campaign by Iran that targeted Trump’s campaign during the 2024 election season. Wiles, who managed Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign before becoming White House Chief of Staff, has been a close adviser to the President and holds a position with access to sensitive information and communications.
“The White House takes the cybersecurity of all staff very seriously, and this matter continues to be investigated,” said a White House official.
The incident highlights the growing threat of AI-powered impersonation in political and governmental spheres. As artificial intelligence technology becomes more sophisticated, distinguishing between authentic and artificially generated communications grows increasingly complex. Federal investigators are now focused on identifying the perpetrators and strengthening cybersecurity measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The White House has confirmed that the investigation is ongoing as they assess the full implications for governmental communication infrastructure.
