Hackers hijacked screens at the Department of Housing and Urban Development headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Monday, blasting an AI-generated video of President Donald Trump kissing Elon Musk’s feet, captioned “LONG LIVE THE REAL KING.” The crude prank, slammed as a waste of taxpayer money, hit as Musk’s efficiency team guts HUD’s bloated spending and jobs, fueling pushback from staff and bureaucrats.
At a glance:
- AI video showed Trump kissing Musk’s feet—two left ones—on HUD screens.
- HUD’s Kasey Lovett called it a “waste of taxpayer dollars,” promising swift action.
- Musk’s DOGE targets 4,000 HUD layoffs and cut millions in DEI contracts.
- House Democrats cheered online, saying “Not all heroes wear capes.”
Taxpayer Funds Burned on Stunt
The video, flagged for its AI quirks like Musk’s two left feet, looped relentlessly on HUD’s internal TVs, forcing staff to manually shut them off. Described as stomach-churning, it showed Trump massaging and kissing Musk’s feet under the bold caption “LONG LIVE THE REAL KING.”
HUD Spokeswoman Kasey Lovett blasted it as “another waste of taxpayer dollars and resources,” vowing punishment for those behind it. By evening, Secretary Scott Turner’s team insisted the screens were meant to showcase Trump’s wins—like cheaper housing and more supply—not just this nonsense, urging focus on real achievements over petty distractions.
Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, tasked by Trump to slash waste, has HUD reeling—cutting millions in “diversity, equity, and inclusion” contracts, recovering nearly $2 billion misplaced under Biden, and eyeing 4,000 layoffs from the agency’s rolls. The prank landed as Trump ends remote work and trims federal jobs, with HUD managers bracing for a 50% staff cut. Some employees laughed it off as a “sign of resistance” that “brought a lot of joy,” but it’s a cheap shot at leaders finally tackling government bloat.
Bureaucrats Fight Back
House Democrats’ Financial Services Committee, led by Rep. Maxine Waters, praised the hack online, writing, “Not all heroes wear capes…,” prompting Turner’s team to fire back that there’s “nothing heroic about abusing taxpayer resources.”
Anti-Musk protesters in D.C. recently shouted “go back to Africa,” upset over lost jobs and contracts, while the video—floating around social media for a week—adds fuel to the fire. Neither Trump nor Musk has commented. With DOGE claiming $55 billion in savings, this taxpayer-funded jab shows the swamp’s desperation to dodge accountability as Trump and Musk deliver on promises to clean house.
