FBI probes AI voice scam impersonating White House chief of staff: WSJ
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Using AI-generated audio and spoofed messages, an impersonator contacted GOP leaders pretending to be Trump’s chief of staff.
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Elon Musk, from left, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick walk to join President Donald Trump on Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, March 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP)
Federal investigators are probing a sophisticated impersonation scheme targeting White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, in which an unidentified individual allegedly posed as her to contact prominent Republican senators, governors, and business leaders.
The FBI investigation into the Susie Wiles impersonation, first revealed by The Wall Street Journal on Thursday, has raised urgent concerns about political cybersecurity and the potential misuse of AI-generated communications in high-level deception.
According to officials, the impersonator used phone calls and text messages to reach influential figures, requesting sensitive information and, in at least one instance, a cash transfer. The FBI confirmed the communications did not originate from Wiles and appeared to involve AI-generated audio to replicate her voice.
“The communications were not coming from Wiles but rather someone impersonating her,” the FBI stated, adding that there is currently no evidence of foreign involvement. However, the case is being treated with high urgency due to its implications for national security and White House cybersecurity.
Wiles’ personal cellphone possibly breached
Investigators believe the impersonator gained access to Wiles’s personal cellphone, which reportedly contained the contact details of high-level Republican figures and top donors. The government-issued device remains secure, officials said.
Wiles’ campaign email account was also compromised during her leadership of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, during which internal documents about JD Vance, Trump’s then-running mate, were revealed.
Messages mimic voice, style, raise suspicions
According to people familiar with the probe, the impersonator left voicemails using audio that sounded like Wiles’s real voice, prompting concerns that AI voice cloning tools were used to add credibility. Some text messages appeared authentic at first, with one message requesting names eligible for presidential pardons.
However, red flags quickly emerged as recipients noticed uncharacteristic grammar, a tone more formal than Wiles’s typical communication style, and unfamiliar phone numbers. The incident has prompted renewed focus on the threat of AI impersonation in political and governmental circles.
“The White House takes the cybersecurity of all staff very seriously, and this matter continues to be investigated,” a spokesperson said in a statement to The Wall Street Journal.
FBI takes all threats with utmost seriousness
Wiles, a veteran Republican strategist and the first woman to serve as Trump’s White House Chief of Staff, remains one of the most trusted figures in the former president’s inner circle. She has long-standing ties to Florida and Washington’s GOP power base.
FBI Director Kash Patel underscored the agency’s commitment to national security, saying, “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.”
According to sources, the impersonator has continued to reach out to individuals even while Wiles was traveling overseas with President Trump. Congressional offices have been alerted, and both the FBI and the White House are working to determine how the impersonator obtained Wiles’s private contact list and crafted such a convincing scheme.
