On February 24, 2025, employees at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) headquarters in Washington, D.C., were met with an unexpected and controversial display. Office monitors throughout the building, including those in common areas like the cafeteria, broadcasted a 19-second AI-generated video depicting President Donald Trump kissing the feet of tech entrepreneur Elon Musk. The video looped for approximately five minutes before being terminated by staff who resorted to unplugging the affected screens.
The video featured the caption “LONG LIVE THE REAL KING,” a possible reference to a recent post by President Trump on his social media platform, Truth Social, where he declared, “Long Live the King!” This incident coincided with federal employees’ return to in-person work following an executive order from President Trump ending remote work arrangements.
HUD spokesperson Kasey Lovett condemned the unauthorized broadcast, stating, “This is another waste of taxpayer dollars and resources, and we are taking appropriate action to address the matter.”
The incident has raised concerns about the security of internal communication systems within federal agencies, especially given the increasing sophistication of AI-generated content, commonly known as “deepfakes.” These digitally manipulated videos can create highly realistic but fabricated portrayals of individuals, posing significant challenges in discerning authentic content from falsified media.
The relationship between President Trump and Elon Musk has been a subject of public interest, particularly after Musk’s appointment as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an unofficial entity focused on streamlining government operations. Musk’s recent directives, including requiring government employees to list their weekly accomplishments or face termination, have sparked controversy and debate about his influence within the federal workforce.
This event also highlights the potential for AI-generated media to be used as a tool for political commentary or protest. The video’s content and its unauthorized dissemination within a federal building suggest a deliberate act aimed at critiquing the perceived relationship between President Trump and Elon Musk, as well as recent administrative policies affecting federal employees.
As investigations into the incident continue, it underscores the pressing need for robust cybersecurity measures to protect against unauthorized access and the spread of misleading information within governmental institutions. The proliferation of deepfake technology presents a growing challenge, necessitating proactive strategies to safeguard the integrity of information and maintain public trust in official communications.
