an AI-generated video of former U.S. President Donald Trump kissing Elon Musk’s feet was unexpectedly displayed on internal monitors at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in Washington, D.C. The 19-second clip, captioned “Long live the real king,” looped for nearly five minutes before HUD staff manually turned off each affected screen.
How the Video Went Viral
- Multiple HUD office monitors, including those in common areas like cafeterias, began playing the AI video.
- Employees initially assumed it was a technical glitch, but the looped playback suggested a coordinated hack.
- Some government employees filmed the footage, which quickly spread across social media platforms, Reddit, and news sites.
The source of the hack remains unknown, with government cybersecurity teams now investigating whether it was an internal breach or an external attack.
Connection to Trump’s Policies and Musk’s Influence
The incident happened as federal employees returned to in-office work following a Trump-led executive order ending remote work for government employees. Additionally, Elon Musk, recently named the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has implemented strict workplace efficiency measures, requiring weekly performance reports from federal workers.
Musk's growing influence within the government has drawn both praise and criticism, with some seeing his leadership as necessary for reform while others fear excessive corporate control over public administration.
Government Response and Investigation
A HUD spokesperson, Kasey Lovett, condemned the incident, stating:
"Another waste of taxpayer dollars and resources. Appropriate action will be taken for all involved."
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Cyber Task Force is leading an investigation to determine:
- Who was responsible for the unauthorized video display.
- Whether HUD’s security system was breached externally or manipulated internally.
- If this was part of a larger cybersecurity threat targeting U.S. government agencies.
Concerns Over AI Deepfake Manipulation
The incident raises new concerns about the potential misuse of AI-generated deepfake videos. Experts warn that these realistic but fake depictions can be used to spread misinformation, manipulate public perception, and disrupt political discourse.
With AI technology advancing rapidly, the risk of deepfake propaganda and security breaches is becoming a growing issue for governments and social media platforms alike.