Fact Check: Yes, AI-generated video of Trump kissing Musk's feet played on TV monitors in HUD headquarters
Claim:
On Feb. 24, 2025, an unauthorized video appeared on TV monitors in the Washington headquarters of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development featuring the caption 'LONG LIVE THE REAL KING' superimposed over fake, AI-generated footage of President Donald Trump kissing the feet and toes of tech billionaire and government efficiency adviser Elon Musk.
Rating:
A rumor circulating online on Feb. 24, 2025, claimed that unauthorized videos had been displayed on TV monitors at the Robert C. Weaver Federal Building, the Washington headquarters for the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). The videos showed the words "LONG LIVE THE REAL KING" superimposed over clearly fake, AI-generated footage of U.S. President Donald Trump kissing and sucking on the feet and toes of tech billionaire and government efficiency adviser Elon Musk.
For example, a Vox journalist posted (archived), "This video of Trump kissing Elon Musk's feet is playing in the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development cafeteria this morning (per source @HUDgov)." A 2010 photo of the cafeteria showed the same columns and other similarities to the February 2025 video.
Another user shared a different video (archived) of the same inauthentic footage playing on a TV screen. The clip showed elevators with a large number "6," possibly somewhere on the sixth floor. The same person posted (archived) a picture showing two TVs in the cafeteria also displaying the footage. That user later added (archived), "I did not take these. They were shared with me."
These videos, reposted by other users as well, genuinely showed that the AI-generated footage of Trump and Musk displayed on TVs at HUD headquarters.
HUD spokesperson Kasey Lovett said of the videos, "Another waste of taxpayer dollars and resources. Appropriate action will be taken for all involved."
The AI-generated video of Trump and Musk played on the belief held by some that Musk, who oversees activities by Trump's new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), bought his way into the administration and is more powerful and the real president. The Washington Post, citing Federal Elections Commission filings, reported Musk donated $288 million to help Trump and other Republicans win their races in the 2024 elections.
Regarding the mention of "LONG LIVE THE REAL KING," on Feb. 19, an authorized user managing the official White House accounts posted an image of Trump wearing a crown with the caption, "Long live the king."
Al Jazeera Staff. "Trump Rejects Taunts That Elon Musk Is Real Power behind US President-Elect." Al Jazeera, 22 Dec. 2024, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/22/trump-rejects-taunts-that-elon-musk-is-real-power-behind-us-president-elect.
"Cafeteria, [HUD Headquarters] - U.S. National Archives Public Domain Photograph." Picryl.com, Sammy Mayo, Jr., 22 Dec. 2010, https://picryl.com/media/cafeteria-hud-headquarters-05c83f.
@cnnpolitics. ""Whether Elon Musk Is the Real 'president,' Merely the 'Prime Minister' Or..." Instagram, 23 Dec. 2024, https://www.instagram.com/cnnpolitics/p/DD61lHVt6qn/.
Lemire, Jonathan. "Elon Musk Is President." The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2025, https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/02/president-elon-musk-trump/681558/.
Thadani, Trisha, et al. "Elon Musk Donated $288 Million in 2024 Election, Final Tally Shows." The Washington Post, 31 Jan. 2025, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/01/31/elon-musk-trump-donor-2024-election/.
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