The article criticised Trump’s strong ties with Elon Musk, the world’s richest person. Musk is in charge of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which aims to reduce federal spending and manpower.
An AI-generated video showing US President Donald Trump sucking Elon Musk’s feet was presented within the headquarters of a US federal department, prompting an investigation, a representative stated.
The video was “briefly” played on screens at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Monday, the New York Times reported.
It criticised Trump’s close relationship with Musk, the world’s richest person, who has been put in charge of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and tasked with cutting federal staffing and spending.
An inscription that read “Long Live the Real King” was superimposed over the video, referencing a message Trump posted on his Truth Social platform to celebrate his government’s nixing of the New York City congestion pricing plan.
‘Fire those responsible’
A HUD spokesperson said on social media that the stunt was “abusing taxpayer resources” and that the department was planning to investigate and fire those responsible.
The looping footage looks to have been created with artificial intelligence.
It arrived on the same day as Musk’s deadline for federal employees to explain their work accomplishments by email.
The deadline passed with significant confusion among an already apprehensive workforce, as some US federal agencies, including those commanded by notable Donald Trump supporters, instructed employees to ignore the email, at least temporarily.
Musk told US federal workers they had “another chance” to justify their work or lose their jobs in a post on his social media platform X on Monday.
In response to the video, the Democrat House Committee on Financial Services said in a post on X: “Not all heroes wear capes.”
