Trump’s Former Chief of Staff Targeted in AI Scam: Hackers Use Deepfakes to Reach High-Level Officials

DONALD Trump’s chief of staff Susie Wiles was reportedly a victim of an impersonation plot where suspected cyber criminals used artificial intelligence to imitate her.

Wiles, known as the Ice Maiden, had her cellphone contacts stolen and texts were sent to politicians that looked as if they came from her.

One politician claimed they were told to come up with a list of potential figures who could be pardoned, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.

The White House suspects cybercriminals used artificial intelligence to imitate her voice.

But, the suspected plot unravelled when they asked questions that Wiles would know the answer to.

Lawmakers also grew suspicious after noticing that the texts were more formal than how Wiles normally types.

And, one message reportedly asked for a cash transfer.

The hackers are believed to have contacted top Republicans and business leaders, and reportedly asked to talk on different social media tools.

But, officials do not believe that a foreign power was behind the cyberscare.

Wiles has since apologized, and told some of her contacts to delete the messages.

The cyber scare involved her personal cell phone, not her government device.

The FBI has also launched an investigation. 

It’s not the first time Wiles has been the subject of a cybersecurity scare.

Last year, her emails were attacked by Iranian agents.

In September 2024, three Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were charged in relation to a hack and leak operation.

Justice department officials claimed they tried to undermine the US election and Trump’s campaign.

They believe it was part of a broader plot to avenge the death of supreme leader Qasem Soleimani.

In August, Trump said his campaign websites had been hacked by the Iranian Government.

“Never a nice thing to do! They were only able to get publicly available information but, nevertheless, they shouldn’t be doing anything of this nature,” he said. 

“Iran and others will stop at nothing, because our Government is Weak and Ineffective, but it won’t be for long.”

The security scare came just weeks after journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was added to a government group chat that discussed plans to attack the Houthi rebels.

The leak sparked huge embarrassment for the Trump administration and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said no sensitive plans were discussed.

“Nobody was texting war plans and that’s all I have to say about that,” he emphatically told Fox News.

HISTORY MAKER

Wiles made history by becoming the first woman to hold the position of Chief of Staff.

Wiles was one of the first appointments Trump made after winning the election.

He described the strategist as “tough, smart, innovative” and said she’s universally respected.

Wiles has worked with Trump since 2016 and had previously spearheaded his operations in Florida.

She joined Trump on stage during his victory celebrations in Florida, and the then president-elect quipped she likes to stay in the background.

Wiles rarely gives interviews, but she did sit down with Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara on her Fox News show My View.

During the interview, she revealed how she views her job as chief of staff.

“I see my job as just sort of keeping the trains on the tracks and running on time here so that the subject matter experts and particularly the president and vice president can do what they need to do to fix the country,” she said.

Wiles was asked by Lara on what she hopes her legacy would be.

She said she wanted an education system that was fit for the future.

“A world at peace, an America that’s strong, and a border that’s secure,” she added.