Federal authorities have identified the cyber-intruder responsible for broadcasting an AI-generated video of President Donald Trump kissing the feet of Elon Musk.
The bizarre video was played on government televisions at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) earlier this week.
A HUD representative confirmed Tuesday that the individual had been escorted off the premises but declined to release their identity or details on how they gained access to the agency’s television system.
Officials have since confirmed that they are now weighing legal action against the perpetrator.
“Legal ramifications are being explored,” a HUD spokesperson told The New York Post. “Additionally, termination or suspension of certain services are being explored as it relates to the department.”
AI Video Sparks Outrage and Raises Questions
The bizarre deepfake, which aired on HUD’s cafeteria TVs Monday morning, looped for five full minutes before staff could manually disable it. The video featured the message: “LONG LIVE THE REAL KING.”
It is believed the caption is a response to the 78-year-old POTUS recently branding himself "the king" in a Truth social post.
Vox reporter Rachel Cohen first shared footage of the unauthorized broadcast, which quickly went viral. While some on social media found the stunt amusing, HUD officials were far from entertained.
“Another waste of taxpayer dollars and resources,” HUD spokesperson Kasey Lovett previously told The Hill. “Appropriate action will be taken for all involved.”
HUD employees were already on edge as Monday marked their first mandatory return to in-office work following Trump’s executive order ending remote work for federal employees. Some staffers reportedly had to unplug televisions room by room to stop the video from playing, per The Independent.
Musk’s Expanding Influence Fuels Tensions
The video appears to be a pointed jab at Musk’s growing power in the Trump administration. The billionaire SpaceX and Tesla CEO has been leading the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has aggressively cut federal jobs and frozen billions in grants and foreign aid.
HUD has been a key target for DOGE’s cost-cutting efforts, with the department recently ordered to account for $1.9 billion Musk’s team claimed was “misplaced during the Biden administration.”
Musk has also taken a hardline stance on government productivity, recently instructing the Office of Personnel and Management (OPM) to demand that all federal workers submit a five-point list of their accomplishments from the past week.
Employees who failed to respond by midnight Monday risked being considered absent from their positions and fired.
Trump praised the move, telling reporters: “We’re trying to find out if people are working, and so we’re sending a letter to people, ‘Please tell us what you did last week.’ If people don’t respond, it’s very possible that there is no such person or they’re not working.”
While some agencies - including the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and Energy - advised staff to ignore Musk’s directive, his involvement in federal operations has sparked growing resistance among government workers.
Trump and Musk Dismiss Speculation of Rift
The AI stunt also plays into a broader narrative that Musk — who helped bankroll Trump’s 2024 campaign — is the real power behind the administration. Some critics have suggested that Musk’s role in shaping government policy is overshadowing Trump himself.
Trump, however, insists their alliance remains strong.
“Elon called me and said, ‘They’re trying to drive us apart,’” Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity in an interview last week. “They said, ‘Donald Trump has ceded control of the presidency to Elon Musk.’ It’s just so obvious. They’re so bad at it.”
Hannity quipped: “This is going to be hard. I feel like I’m interviewing the two brothers.”
Despite skepticism from political pundits, the Trump-Musk partnership appears intact for now—though the viral deepfake video suggests not everyone in Washington is happy about it.