The official White House website has launched a new "arcade" section that includes crudely made video game knock-offs of classic titles such as Tetris, Flappy Bird, and Snake. These games feature xenophobic and nationalist messaging, including themes of border protection and deportation.
One game, "Build the Wall," is a direct clone of Tetris with the stated objective to "Protect the border from the coming horde." In-game text urges players to "Stack Bricks. Hold The Line." The gameplay reportedly fails to adhere to basic Tetris mechanics, such as clearing lines.
Another game, "Rio Run," a reimagining of Snake, casts the player as a white man tasked with arresting people of color attempting to cross the Rio Grande. A third game, "Supply Line," involves players removing food items from a conveyor belt to "Make America Healthy Again," a message that notably omits recent public health concerns.
The promotional material for this "Arcade.gov" section includes visuals and audio ripped from classic game consoles, such as the GameCube, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 2 loading animations, as well as the iconic Green Hill Zone theme from Sonic the Hedgehog. The White House's accompanying X post for the arcade described the initiative with phrases like "CAN’T STOP WINNING. Build the wall. Deport. Fill a Trump Account. LIVE - PLAY NOW."
These additions appear to be part of a broader strategy of online engagement, aiming to generate social media attention. This initiative follows a pattern of the administration using juvenile and provocative content online. The games themselves have been described as appearing as if generated by AI prompts, drawing parallels to the administration's social media practices.
While the Trump administration has utilized intellectual property from major gaming companies like Nintendo, Microsoft, and PlayStation for its messaging, these companies have largely remained silent on the matter. Nintendo, known for its aggressive stance on intellectual property protection, has not publicly addressed the use of its assets. Reports suggest the administration is still considering imposing tariffs on game consoles, which would likely increase prices for consumers. Previous tariffs imposed by the administration were eventually struck down by the Supreme Court, leading to government refunds that were not fully passed on to consumers by the affected companies.