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In a bizarre and unprecedented cyber stunt, hackers took over television screens at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Monday, playing an AI-generated video of Donald Trump kissing Elon Musk’s feet. The 19-second clip, which ran on a loop for five minutes in the cafeteria and other areas, was reportedly captioned: Long live the real king.
The incident coincided with the first day of mandatory in-office work for federal employees following an executive order that ended pandemic-era remote work policies. The timing of the hack and its message suggest an act of political satire aimed at the new Trump administration and its close relationship with Musk, who has been given sweeping power over federal workforce efficiency.
Hackers Hijack HUD Screens
According to reports, the video appeared on multiple screens inside the HUD building, catching employees off guard. A source shared footage of the hacked screens with Vox reporter Rachel Cohen, who posted it on social media, quickly drawing widespread attention.
Journalist Maria Kabas, citing an anonymous agency source, reported that building staff couldn’t figure out how to turn it off, so they sent people to every floor to unplug TVs. The disruption lasted several minutes before officials managed to regain control.
HUD spokeswoman Kasey Lovett condemned the incident, calling it another waste of taxpayer dollars and resources and promising that appropriate action will be taken for all involved. However, the identity of the hackers and their method of breaching the government system remains unclear.
Musk’s Role in Trump’s Administration Sparks Controversy
The AI-generated video is the latest in a series of controversies surrounding Elon Musk’s deep involvement in the Trump administration. Musk, now serving as head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, has been tasked with implementing aggressive cost-cutting and anti-fraud measures across federal agencies.
His first major act was sending an email to federal employees with the subject line What did you do last week? demanding that they submit a list of five accomplishments. Musk warned that failure to respond would be taken as a resignation. This no-nonsense approach has been met with backlash from government workers, many of whom see it as an attempt to force resignations and reduce the federal workforce.
Despite the criticism, Trump has stood by Musk, praising the email as great during remarks from the Oval Office on Monday.
A Sign of the Times?
The AI-generated video and subsequent hack highlight the growing role of artificial intelligence in political satire and digital activism. AI-manipulated media, or deepfakes, have become a powerful tool for both humor and misinformation, raising concerns about security and public perception.
As investigations into the HUD hack unfold, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in government systems and the ever-blurring line between reality and artificial intelligence.
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