On February 24, government workers at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) were shocked when a disturbing deepfake video of Donald Trump and Elon Musk aired on the cafeteria TV. The video portrayed an intimate and absurd interaction between the two, with a caption reading “LONG LIVE THE REAL KING.” Officials quickly traced the hacker behind the incident, who could face legal consequences after being removed from the building.
The identity of the individual and the method used to hijack the HUD’s TV system have not been disclosed, but the person is reportedly connected to the department. After the incident, the TVs were restored to normal programming. The video went viral, with reactions ranging from amusement to disgust, with some noticing AI errors like Musk’s “two left feet.” The incident occurred amid scrutiny of Musk’s role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has been involved in significant cost-cutting measures.
