A bizarre incident unfolded at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) building in Washington, D.C., where an AI-generated video of former President Donald Trump “kissing businessman Elon Musk’s feet” was shown to staff members. The video, titled “Long Live the Real King,” referenced a recent post by Trump on Truth Social, where he declared, “Long Live the King!”
The video quickly went viral, sparking widespread reactions online. Social media platforms were flooded with images and videos of the event, with many speculating whether it was the result of a sophisticated hack or a deliberate stunt. While the true source of the incident remains unclear, there is speculation that either hackers or another group could have orchestrated the situation.
An X (formerly Twitter) user shared the video, stating, “WOW! This actually just happened! The monitors were hacked at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to display an AI video of Trump licking Elon Musk’s toes. The caption over it read, LONG LIVE THE REAL KING.”
In response to the incident, a spokesperson for the Housing and Urban Development Department, Kasey Lovett, issued a statement expressing frustration: “Another waste of taxpayer dollars and resources. Appropriate action will be taken for all involved.”
Later in the evening, HUD Secretary Scott Turner’s office released a statement clarifying the department’s intended messaging. According to the statement, the monitors were initially meant to showcase achievements from the Trump administration, including efforts to lower the cost and expand the availability of affordable housing. Turner’s office emphasized that these positive accomplishments should be covered with the same attention and immediacy as other stories, regardless of the incident that had transpired.
The controversy surrounding the HUD incident comes amid a weekend social media post from Elon Musk, where he stirred confusion by stating that government employees should respond to a mass email listing five accomplishments from the past week. Musk warned that failure to reply would be interpreted as a resignation.
While the AI video incident at HUD raised eyebrows, the situation left many wondering about the growing influence of artificial intelligence in shaping public perception, as well as the ongoing dynamics between high-profile figures such as Trump and Musk. As investigations into the matter continue, it remains uncertain whether this was an accidental mishap or part of a more deliberate political or social statement.
