A video of Trump kissing Elon Musk’s feet went viral on Monday morning, causing quite a stir. Employees at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) were met with an unusual sight as the footage played across office screens. Officials suspect the incident may have been the result of a hack.
Truth About The Video
The video, titled “Long live the real king,” apparently was a reference to Donald Trump’s Truth Social post, posted last week. In his post, Trump wrote, “Long Live the King!”. The short clipped has shocked the entire country, where Trump was enthusiastically kissing Department of Government Efficiency(Doge) chief Elon Musk’s feet.
The video is AI-generated. According to the New York Post, the manipulated footage depicted former U.S. President Donald Trump caressing and kissing the feet of billionaire Elon Musk while displaying the phrase, “LONG LIVE THE REAL KING.” The incident, first reported by journalist Rachel Cohen, quickly gained national attention, fueling debates over cybersecurity vulnerabilities, political symbolism, and Musk’s perceived influence in government affairs.
Journalist Rachel Cohen was the first to report the incident, which quickly grabbed national attention, sparking debates about cybersecurity risks, political symbolism, and Musk’s perceived influence in government affairs. While the identity of the hackers remains unknown, the footage appears to have surfaced on X (formerly Twitter) a week earlier. Officials at HUD have strongly condemned the breach and assured that appropriate action will be taken.
In a statement to The Hill, HUD spokesperson Kasey Lovett said, “Another waste of taxpayer dollars and resources. Appropriate action will be taken for all involved.”
Why The Video
Various news report suggest that Elon Musk has become one of Trump’s most powerful allies, as he has gained considerable power in federal agencies since Trump’s inauguration. Musk’s latest suggestion has stirred controversy after he proposed that government employees should submit a weekly report outlining five achievements—failing which, they would be deemed to have resigned.
He has also triggered reductions in the workforce in the federal government. Elon Musk was also assigned to head the Department of Government Efficiency, an agency responsible for informing the administration regarding budget cuts and staff reductions.
A growing number of Americans feel that Musk’s influence over the federal government has become excessive. Under his leadership, the DOGE team claims to have recovered $1.9 billion in misallocated HUD funds and canceled at least $4 million in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) contracts. Addressing these budget changes, Musk commented on X, “It is astounding how much taxpayer money can be saved with even a small amount of effort.”
