Top Trump Adviser Hacked in Impersonation Scheme Targeting GOP, Executives
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The FBI and the Trump administration have launched a joint investigation into a cybersecurity breach involving White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, whose personal phone and email were reportedly hacked by an impersonator.
An unidentified individual posing as Wiles contacted Republican senators, governors, and high-profile business executives in recent weeks, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing anonymous sources.
The impersonator used voice calls and text messages that mimicked Wiles’ speech, and officials suspect artificial intelligence may have been used to replicate her voice.
Investigators reportedly do not believe foreign actors are responsible for the breach, sources told the Journal.
One lawmaker said they received a text from the impersonator, claiming to be Wiles, asking for a list of individuals for President Donald Trump to pardon.
While some messages appeared routine, others were suspicious.
Some recipients noted inconsistencies in the language used, with the impersonator asking questions Wiles would normally know the answers to.
In one instance, the impersonator allegedly requested a cash transfer.
The calls and texts did not originate from Wiles’ actual phone.
Wiles, a top adviser to President Trump and manager of his 2024 campaign, reportedly informed associates that her personal phone had been compromised.
The hack may have allowed the impersonator to access her contacts and their personal information.
A source told the Journal, “Some White House advisers have privately joked about how busy the impersonator seems to be.”
“The White House takes the cybersecurity of all staff very seriously, and this matter continues to be investigated,” a White House spokeswoman told the Journal.
Wiles' appointment to the chief of staff position sparked criticism due to her background as a lobbyist.
In November, fellow lobbyist Craig Holman told the Associated Press that her selection “bodes very poorly for what we are about to see from the next Trump administration.”
“This time around, Trump didn’t even mention ‘draining the swamp.’ … He’s not even pretending,” Holman added.
Wiles was Trump’s first announced hire after his 2024 election victory.
She co-led his campaign and was credited with running a more disciplined operation than his previous two.
Despite her success, the chief of staff role is expected to be challenging.
In his first term, Trump resisted efforts by previous chiefs of staff to control access to him, going through four people in the role.
In his recent victory speech, Trump praised Wiles as a “consummate behind-the-scenes player” and referred to her as the “Ice Maiden.”
She is the first woman to hold the White House chief of staff position.
