Employees at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in Washington, D.C., were caught off guard when a hacker hijacked their office’s digital signage system. Instead of standard work-related messages, screens displayed an AI-generated deepfake video of Donald Trump and Elon Musk in a bizarre and crude scene. The manipulated footage depicted Trump sucking Musk’s toes, with the phrase “Long live the real king” overlaying the clip.
What’s Happening & Why This Matters
This intrusion came after Trump posted “Long live the king” on Truth Social, following his decision to revoke federal approval for New York City’s congestion pricing law—a move that sparked criticism from Governor Kathy Hochul. Some HUD employees found the display absurd, while others saw it as deeply inappropriate.
The deepfake remained on screens for about five minutes before IT staff intervened. Employees resorted to manually unplugging digital displays across multiple floors to regain control. The hack coincided with HUD’s mandatory return-to-office order, adding to workplace frustration.
The timing also aligns with reports that HUD, now under oversight from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—a newly established entity led by Elon Musk—is cutting around 4,000 jobs, nearly half of its workforce. Some speculate that the deepfake prank was a satirical protest against these layoffs, particularly as Musk has required employees to submit weekly progress reports or risk termination.
Deepfake technology is increasingly being used for cyberattacks, misinformation, and political commentary. This incident highlights ongoing security concerns as AI-generated media becomes more sophisticated and accessible. Government agencies remain vulnerable to these disruptions, raising concerns about how easily digital systems can be compromised.
Neither Trump nor Musk have commented on the event, though Trump’s stance on government downsizing suggests he supports Musk’s restructuring efforts at HUD. Cybersecurity experts warn that as deepfake tools become more advanced, more agencies could become targets for politically motivated hacks.
TF Summary: What’s Next
This HUD cyber intrusion is part of a growing trend of deepfake-driven digital attacks that mix satire, protest, and misinformation. While this incident may seem like a prank, it raises serious concerns about cybersecurity risks in government operations. The ability to easily manipulate digital content creates new challenges for maintaining trust in official communications.
As AI-generated media evolves, government agencies must focus on strengthening security protocols to prevent future breaches. Whether this was a one-time stunt or a preview of more politically driven cyberattacks, it is clear that deepfake technology is reshaping digital threats, requiring urgent action to protect public institutions.
— Text-to-Speech (TTS) provided by gspeech