Federal Employees Greeted by Mysterious Video at HUD Headquarters
Mysterious Video Causes Commotion at HUD Headquarters
Federal employees at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) were greeted by a mysterious video at the agency’s Washington, DC, headquarters on Monday morning. The video, which appears to be AI-generated, shows President Donald Trump kissing the feet of Elon Musk, accompanied by the words "LONG LIVE THE REAL KING."
Employees Forced to Turn Off TVs
A person at HUD headquarters shared a video with WIRED showing the scene playing out on a loop on a TV screen inside the Robert C. Weaver Federal Building. According to the source, who wished to remain anonymous, workers at the building had to manually turn off each TV in order to stop the video from playing.
Unclear Who was Behind the Prank
It is currently unclear who was behind the prank. Similar AI-generated videos and still images of Trump kissing Musk’s feet have been shared on social media platforms since last year.
HUD Spokesperson Responds
"Another waste of taxpayer dollars and resources," Kasey Lovett, a HUD spokesperson, told WIRED. "Appropriate action will be taken for all involved."
The White House Remains Silent
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Context: Ongoing Controversies and Cuts
The incident comes just days after leaked documents showed that Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) project was planning to eradicate 4,000 employees at the agency, which is currently dealing with a US housing crisis. Additionally, HUD’s Office of Community Planning and Development is slated to lose 84% of its staff according to leaked documents.
Background: Federal Workers’ Union and Leadership
Over the weekend, employees at HUD, like many other federal workers, received an email from the Office of Personnel Management demanding a reply with "approx. 5 bullets of what you accomplished last week." Leadership at many of the agencies, as well as federal workers’ union leaders, told their members not to respond to the emails, while HUD leadership told employees to wait until at least noon on Monday before taking any action.
Conclusion
The mysterious video at HUD headquarters is just one of many recent controversies surrounding the agency, which is facing significant challenges in addressing the US housing crisis. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions and uncertainties faced by federal employees, who are already dealing with significant budget cuts and changes in leadership.
FAQs
Q: Who is behind the mysterious video?
A: It is currently unclear who was behind the prank.
Q: Why did HUD employees have to turn off the TVs?
A: Employees had to manually turn off each TV in order to stop the video from playing.
Q: What is the context of the video?
A: The video is likely a reference to a series of AI-generated images and videos shared on social media since last year, featuring Trump and Musk.
Q: What is the current situation at HUD?
A: HUD is facing significant challenges in addressing the US housing crisis, including budget cuts and changes in leadership.
