Cyberpunks breached a television at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Monday morning, broadcasting a stomach-turning AI video of President Trump caressing and kissing the feet of billionaire Elon Musk.
The sickening sight, which was first reported by Vox journalist Rachel Cohen, was played on a TV in a cafeteria at the agency’s headquarters while blaring the message: “LONG LIVE THE REAL KING.”
Congressional Democrats, lefty pundits and other critics have taken to calling the tech mogul “President Musk,” in a seeming effort to irk Trump and highlight the Tesla and SpaceX CEO’s level of influence in administrative decision-making.
“Not all heroes wear capes,” Democrats on the House Financial Services Committee cheered on X in response to the video.
Recent public polling has shown that Americans believe Musk, 53, who is overseeing the Department Of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cost-cutting team auditing HUD and other agencies, has been given too much power in the executive branch — even as voters broadly agree with the mission of trimming the federal budget.
It’s unclear whether hackers or another party was responsible for the prank, but the footage appears to have been taken from an X post the week before.
“Another waste of taxpayer dollars and resources,” responded HUD spokeswoman Kasey Lovett in a statement. “Appropriate action will be taken for all involved.”
Trump, 78, invoked the royal title last week when his administration terminated a $9 congestion toll for New Yorkers entering Manhattan south of 60th Street.
“Congestion pricing is dead. Manhattan, and all of New York, is saved. Long Live The King!” he posted Wednesday on Truth Social.
The declaration led to an apparent AI creation by the White House itself, showing the 47th president crowned on a mock Time magazine cover — with the name of the title changed to “Trump,” and the Manhattan skyline looming behind him.
DOGE claimed this month to have recovered $1.9 billion in HUD funds “misplaced” by the Biden administration — and to have canceled at least $4 million in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) contracts.
“It is astounding how much taxpayer money can be saved with even a small amount of effort,” Musk posted on X after sharing the funding amounts DOGE had recovered at HUD.
Over the weekend, the X boss demanded that all federal employees explain in five bullet points what they accomplished last week.
HUD Secretary Scott Turner told reporters earlier this month that officials were “working on a DOGE task force” to “maximize” the department’s efficiency.
“There is more to come,” Turner said. “We’re going to take inventory of all of HUD’s programs and ensure every dollar that goes out of the door is advancing HUD’s mission, which is to provide quality, affordable homes.”
