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At least five high-ranking government officials were targeted in mid-June by an AI-driven impersonation of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to a classified State Department cable obtained by NBC News and first reported by The Washington Post.
The incident marks a new level of sophistication in the use of artificial intelligence to target U.S. officials and conduct digital espionage or manipulation campaigns. The attackers deployed AI-generated voice messages and text communications via Signal, the encrypted messaging app, in an attempt to extract sensitive information or gain access to restricted accounts.
“The actor likely aimed to manipulate targeted individuals using AI-generated text and voice messages,” the memo warned.
Fake Rubio Reached Foreign Ministers and U.S. Officials
According to the cable, the unknown actor impersonating Rubio targeted at least three foreign ministers, one U.S. governor, and a sitting member of Congress. At least one recipient received a text message requesting a conversation on Signal, while two others received AI-cloned voice messages over the app.
The impersonator used the Signal display name marco.rubio@state.gov, a non-functional email address. While Signal allows users to set any nickname they choose, it does not verify email ownership—making it ripe for misuse by disinformation actors.
Connected to Previous Cyber Missteps
The memo linked the campaign to a prior March 2025 episode now known as “Signalgate,” in which Rubio and other senior officials inadvertently shared sensitive information about military actions in Yemen after accidentally adding a journalist to a private Signal chat.
Additionally, the campaign mirrors a May incident in which Trump Chief of Staff Susie Wiles was impersonated through fake phone calls and texts—also under FBI investigation.
Voice Cloning Raises Alarm
The use of AI voice cloning is especially troubling. The technology has advanced rapidly, enabling bad actors to replicate human speech patterns with chilling accuracy. Experts warn that many targets may not be able to distinguish cloned voices from those of real individuals.
“This is a new frontier in cyber deception,” said a senior cybersecurity analyst briefed on the incident. “It doesn’t require hacking email servers or stealing passwords—it just requires being convincing enough to trick someone into trusting you.”
No Direct Cyber Intrusion — But Real Risks Remain
The State Department clarified that no direct breach of its systems occurred, but warned that sensitive information could still be at risk:
“Information shared with a third party could be exposed if targeted individuals are compromised,” the cable noted.
The department has since distributed the memo, signed by Rubio, to all domestic and overseas diplomatic posts, instructing staff to alert external partners of the impersonation threat.
State Department Responds
A senior State Department official confirmed the campaign and stressed that an internal investigation is ongoing:
“The department takes seriously its responsibility to safeguard its information,” the official said. “For security reasons, and due to our ongoing investigation, we are not in a position to offer further details at this time.”
The attack highlights a growing threat posed by AI-generated misinformation and deepfake technologies, which are increasingly used in foreign disinformation campaigns and targeted influence operations.
Bottom Line:
The AI-driven impersonation of Secretary Marco Rubio is a wake-up call for U.S. cybersecurity readiness. As synthetic text and voice technologies become more accessible and convincing, new safeguards and verification mechanisms will be critical to protecting diplomacy, national security, and the integrity of communication between government officials.
