A government employee suspected of orchestrating a strange TV hack that broadcast an AI-generated video of Donald Trump kissing Elon Musk’s feet has been identified and is likely facing termination, officials confirmed.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was thrown into chaos on Monday when television screens in the agency’s cafeteria suddenly played the surreal footage, accompanied by the phrase “Long Live the Real King.”
HUD Employee Escorted Off Property
On Tuesday, a HUD spokesperson told DailyMail.com that the individual responsible had been escorted from the premises, and the department is now considering legal action and potential termination or suspension.
“This was a waste of taxpayer dollars and resources,” the spokesperson stated, confirming that an investigation is ongoing.
The bizarre clip quickly went viral after HUD employees shared footage with Vox reporter Rachel Cohen, who then posted it on social media.
TV Screens Now Display Trump Administration ‘Wins’
By Tuesday evening, HUD had replaced the hacked video with official Trump administration updates, highlighting efforts to reduce housing costs and increase supply.
“The monitors at HUD are now showcasing the wins of the Trump administration,” the spokesperson said, dismissing the controversy as a “frivolous distraction.”
Musk’s Expanding Role in the Trump Administration
Elon Musk, serving as a special adviser to President Trump, has been leading the administration’s DOGE initiative, which aims to make government operations more efficient.
However, his presence has sparked tensions among federal workers, particularly after he mandated weekly progress reports from employees.
An internal email sent under Musk’s directive, titled “What did you do last week?”, instructed government employees to submit five bullet points summarizing their work—or risk being considered “resigned.”
Musk later reinforced this message on X (formerly Twitter):
“Failure to reply will be taken as a resignation.”
Federal Workers Push Back Against Musk’s Policies
The directive has outraged federal employees, many of whom view Musk as an unelected dictator exerting too much control. Some have even called on Trump to remove him from his advisory role.
Critics argue that Musk’s strict, corporate-style oversight is disrupting government operations.
One social media user commented:
“The fact that they had time to sit around and do this (the TV hack) is why they need to be restructured.”
Trump Defends Musk’s Crackdown on Bureaucracy
Despite the criticism, Trump has strongly defended Musk’s efforts to increase government accountability.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump praised Musk’s weekly report email, calling it “great.”
“There was a lot of genius in sending it. We’re trying to find out if people are working,” Trump said. “If they don’t respond, it’s very possible they’re not working at all.”
Musk Embraces His Meme Status
Musk, unfazed by the backlash, has fully embraced his polarizing role in Washington. At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) last week, he joked about his influence after receiving a chrome-enhanced chainsaw from Argentine President Javier Milei.
“I am become meme. Yeah, pretty much. There’s living the dream and there’s living the meme. And that’s pretty much what’s happening, you know.”
While some view the HUD TV hack as a rebellious act of resistance, others see it as a symptom of government dysfunction under Musk’s aggressive oversight.
Regardless, changes are coming—and Musk’s influence in Washington appears to be stronger than ever.