Donald Trump’s administration is facing unprecedented security challenges.

Foreign actors and cybercriminals are working overtime to infiltrate the highest levels of government.

And the FBI just uncovered one disturbing plot against Donald Trump’s inner circle that has security experts on high alert.

Hackers target Trump’s Chief of Staff with sophisticated AI scheme

Susie Wiles made history when she became the first female Chief of Staff in U.S. history.

But that groundbreaking achievement has also made her a prime target for bad actors looking to infiltrate the Trump administration.

The FBI is now investigating a brazen attempt to impersonate Wiles through fake text messages and phone calls designed to fool top government officials.

According to The Wall Street Journal, contacts were stolen from Wiles’ personal cellphone – not her government device – and used to create convincing fake communications.

The scheme was so sophisticated that it fooled some recipients initially, with hackers using artificial intelligence to make their messages appear authentic.

"The FBI takes all threats against the president, his staff, and our cybersecurity with the utmost seriousness," FBI Director Kash Patel said. "Safeguarding our administration officials’ ability to securely communicate to accomplish the president’s mission is a top priority."

Red flags exposed the fake communications

While the impersonation attempt was initially convincing, several warning signs eventually gave away the scheme.

Government officials became suspicious when the fake Wiles began asking questions about Trump that the real Chief of Staff should have known the answers to.

In one particularly bold move, the impersonator even requested a cash transfer from one of the targets, while another received a request for a list of people Trump could pardon.

The Wall Street Journal reported that broken grammar in some of the messages also raised red flags among recipients who know Wiles personally.

This wasn’t a random attack by amateur hackers.

The FBI believes this was part of a larger, coordinated effort targeting senior U.S. officials and their contacts.

A growing threat to government security

The attack on Wiles is part of a disturbing pattern that has security experts increasingly concerned.

On May 15, the FBI issued a public service announcement warning about widespread attempts to impersonate senior U.S. officials.

"Since April 2025, malicious actors have impersonated senior US officials to target individuals, many of whom are current or former senior US federal or state government officials and their contacts," the FBI stated.

The agency warned that these criminals are using advanced techniques including "smishing" (fake text messages) and "vishing" (AI-generated voice messages) to establish trust with their targets.

Once they gain that trust, they send malicious links disguised as invitations to switch to different messaging platforms.

The ultimate goal is gaining access to personal or official accounts that can then be used to target other government officials or extract sensitive information.

Iran previously targeted Wiles

This isn’t the first time Wiles has found herself in the crosshairs of foreign adversaries.

In 2024, Iranian agents attempted to hack into her email account as part of their broader efforts to interfere with the Presidential election.

These repeated attacks underscore just how valuable Wiles has become as a target due to her unprecedented access to Trump and his inner circle.

Trump pollster Tony Fabrizio told Politico that Wiles has unparalleled influence within the administration.

"There is nobody, I think, that has the wealth of information that she does. Nobody in our orbit. Nobody," Fabrizio explained. "She touches everything."

Wiles’ rise to power makes her a prime target

Wiles didn’t start at the top of Trump’s operation.

She served as Trump’s 2016 Florida campaign director before rising through the ranks to become CEO of his "Save America" PAC in 2021.

From there, she became senior adviser to his 2024 campaign and ultimately his Chief of Staff.

Her deep knowledge of Trump’s political operation, combined with her historic role as the first female Chief of Staff, makes her an incredibly valuable target for anyone looking to gather intelligence on the administration.

The fact that criminals are now using AI to impersonate her shows just how sophisticated these threats have become.

The new reality of government security

The attack on Wiles highlights the evolving nature of threats facing the Trump administration.

Traditional security measures aren’t enough when criminals can use artificial intelligence to create convincing fake communications from trusted contacts.

Government officials at all levels now have to verify the authenticity of communications that appear to come from colleagues and superiors.

The FBI’s investigation into this impersonation scheme sends a clear message that attempts to infiltrate the highest levels of government will be met with the full force of federal law enforcement.

But it also serves as a wake-up call about the increasingly sophisticated nature of modern cyber threats.

As Wiles continues to serve in her groundbreaking role, she’ll undoubtedly remain a high-value target for America’s adversaries.

The question is whether our security measures can keep pace with the evolving tactics of those who want to do harm to the country.