The White House has taken down a “Build the Wall” arcade game from its official website days after the owner of the Tetris brand warned it could constitute copyright infringement. The game appeared on the White House site last week alongside a series of arcade-style titles promoting Trump administration policies, including its immigration crackdown and “Make America Healthy Again” initiative. As of Wednesday, it is no longer accessible.
The White House didn’t publicly explain why it was removed. The short-lived “Build the Wall” game mimicked the mechanics of the classic Tetris game, letting players rotate and stack colorful, falling blocks. But in this version, users were tasked with constructing a block-built barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border to repel a “Zombie Border Siege.” If users failed, a message cropped up reading: “Border Breached.” On Friday, the Tetris brand distanced itself from the Trump administration game, and warned that it could face legal consequences.
To our fans everywhere: we love you, we see you, and we’re grateful to have you in our community,” the Tetris brand said in a statement posted to social media, which garnered millions of views. The company stressed it had no role in creating the White House game and warned that it takes “copyright infringement very seriously.” When asked by Variety whether the brand had considered legal action, a representative said Tetris was “currently reviewing the matter.” As of Wednesday, four games remained on the White House’s “arcade” site, including Flappy Bill, in which players guide a bald eagle carrying legislation through obstacles, and Rio Run, where users play as Border Patrol agents along the Rio Grande. The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.
The White House routinely deploys pop-culture imagery to promote its agenda, including the president’s immigration crackdown, which polls indicate remains unpopular with many Americans. Last year, for instance, the White House shared a Studio Ghibli–style illustration of a detained migrant, capitalizing on a viral social media trend. Earlier this year, it posted a video likening ICE agents to Spider Man, with detainees shown ensnared in webs.
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