A peculiar cyberattack targeting federal facilities has caught the attention of government officials and social media users alike.
According to the New York Post, cybercriminals breached television screens at the Department of Housing and Urban Development headquarters, broadcasting an artificial intelligence-generated video depicting former President Donald Trump kissing Elon Musk's feet while displaying the message "LONG LIVE THE REAL KING."
The incident occurred Monday morning in the agency's cafeteria, initially reported by Vox journalist Rachel Cohen. Democrats on the House Financial Services Committee responded to the incident on X, formerly Twitter, with apparent approval, posting, "Not all heroes wear capes."
Recent polls indicate widespread public concern regarding Musk's expanding role in federal operations, particularly his leadership of the Department Of Government Efficiency cost-cutting team. The 53-year-old tech mogul's team, known as DOGE, has been conducting extensive audits of HUD and other federal agencies.
The controversial footage appears to reference ongoing political tensions, as Democratic critics have begun referring to Musk as "President Musk" to highlight his perceived influence over administrative decisions. This nickname seems designed to provoke Trump while drawing attention to the Tesla CEO's growing power within the executive branch.
HUD spokeswoman Kasey Lovett addressed the incident in an official statement: "Another waste of taxpayer dollars and resources. Appropriate action will be taken for all involved."
The incident follows Trump's recent use of royal imagery after his administration eliminated a $9 congestion toll for Manhattan residents south of 60th Street.
The former president celebrated on Truth Social, declaring himself king of New York, which prompted the White House to release its own AI-generated image featuring Trump wearing a crown on a modified Time magazine cover.
DOGE's recent activities at HUD have yielded significant results, including the recovery of $1.9 billion in allegedly misplaced funds from the Biden administration and the cancellation of approximately $4 million in diversity, equity and inclusion contracts. Musk has publicly celebrated these achievements on his X platform.
The tech billionaire recently implemented new accountability measures, requiring federal employees to provide detailed weekly accomplishment reports. Meanwhile, HUD Secretary Scott Turner has announced the formation of a special task force to collaborate with DOGE in maximizing departmental efficiency.
The origin of the AI-generated video remains unknown, though investigators have traced the footage to an X post from the previous week.
The incident has highlighted ongoing cybersecurity vulnerabilities within federal facilities while drawing attention to the complex power dynamics between Trump, Musk, and various government agencies.
While many view the hack as a provocative political statement, others see it as a serious security breach requiring immediate attention. The incident underscores the increasing role of artificial intelligence in political discourse and the challenges facing federal agencies in protecting their digital infrastructure from unauthorized access.
