Employees at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) were met with an unexpected sight on Monday: a deepfake video of former President Donald Trump kissing the toes of billionaire Elon Musk displayed on internal office monitors.
The AI-generated video, which appeared to mock the power dynamic between the two figures, included a caption: “Long live the real king.” Two HUD employees confirmed the incident to NBC News, describing it as a prank that lifted spirits in the office.
Federal Employees Return to Offices Amid Layoffs
The timing of the stunt coincided with Trump’s push to reduce remote work options for federal employees. It also followed mass layoffs at HUD, where some managers anticipate staff reductions of up to 50%.
One employee described the prank as “a sign of resistance”, while another said, “Everyone is talking and laughing about it.”
Political Fallout and Investigation
The video quickly spread on social media, with some Democratic-affiliated accounts praising the stunt. An account linked to House Democrats on the Financial Services Committee shared the clip with the caption: “Not all heroes wear capes.”
HUD Secretary Scott Turner and department officials condemned the prank, calling it an inappropriate use of taxpayer resources. A HUD spokesperson confirmed that an internal investigation is underway, stating: “Appropriate action will be taken for all involved.”
Meanwhile, the White House and Elon Musk have not commented on the incident.
AI Fingerprints: The Two Left Feet Giveaway
Similar AI-generated videos of Trump and Musk have been circulating online in recent weeks. One key giveaway of the HUD video’s artificial origins? Musk appears to have two left feet, a classic AI rendering error.
While it remains unclear who was behind the prank, the incident underscores the growing impact of AI-generated content in politics, government, and workplace culture—for better or worse.