The Video, Which Appeared to be Generated by Artificial Intelligence, was Emblazoned with the Message “Long Live the Real King”
A fake video featuring President Trump and Elon Musk briefly played on monitors at the Washington, D.C., headquarters of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Monday. The AI-generated video depicted Trump sucking Musk’s toes, accompanied by the message, “Long Live the Real King.”
HUD spokeswoman Kasey Lovett denounced the display as a misuse of taxpayer resources, stating, “Appropriate action will be taken for all involved.” Officials quickly worked to remove the video, ultimately unplugging several monitors after failing to identify the source of the breach.
Timing Amid Federal Workforce Tensions
The incident occurred just days after Musk, appointed by Trump to lead government efficiency reforms, issued a directive requiring federal employees to summarize their weekly work or face possible termination. While the email did not explicitly threaten job loss, Musk’s public statements framed noncompliance as a resignation.
Uncertainty Over Compliance With Musk’s Directive
Some federal agencies, particularly those handling national security, instructed employees not to comply with Musk’s request. At HUD, employees sought guidance on whether they should respond, but agency-wide instructions had yet to be issued.
Return to Office and Security Breach
The video appeared on the same day that HUD employees were required to return to the office full-time, following Trump’s order to end remote work for federal employees. The unauthorized broadcast raised concerns over cybersecurity vulnerabilities within the department, with officials still investigating how the monitors were accessed.
