A video generated by artificial intelligence showing former U.S. President Donald Trump in a compromising situation with Elon Musk was displayed in a U.S. government office, prompting an investigation, according to a spokesperson. The video, which briefly appeared on screens at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Monday, mocked Trump’s close relationship with Musk, who is the wealthiest individual in the world. Musk currently oversees the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and is focused on reducing federal workforce and expenses.
The video also contained a message stating “Long Live the Real King,” seemingly referencing a post Trump shared on his social media platform, Truth Social, where he celebrated the cancellation of a congestion pricing initiative in New York City.
A spokesperson for HUD described the incident as a misuse of taxpayer dollars and declared that the department would investigate the occurrence and terminate those accountable for airing the video.
It appeared that the video was created using AI technology, which has gained popularity for producing digital content. This incident coincided with the same day Musk set a deadline for federal employees to report their work accomplishments via email.
The deadline led to confusion among federal workers, with some agencies, particularly those headed by Trump supporters, advising their employees to disregard the email for the time being. Musk later reminded federal employees on his social media platform, X, that they still had an opportunity to validate their contributions or face the risk of job loss.
In reaction to the video, the Democratic House Committee on Financial Services tweeted on X, stating, “Not all heroes wear capes,” probably alluding to the unexpected developments surrounding the situation.
