The White House has taken down a newly released arcade-style video game titled “Build the Wall” after receiving criticism from the Tetris Company regarding its gameplay mechanics and political messaging. The game was initially launched last week as part of a broader initiative by the Trump Administration to promote its policy agenda through digital entertainment.
In “Build the Wall,” players stacked blocks to construct a barrier intended to “protect the border from the coming horde,” mirroring the mechanics of the classic Soviet-era puzzle game Tetris. However, the game disappeared from the official White House website on Tuesday.
The removal follows a statement issued by the Tetris Company on Friday, which clarified that it had no involvement in the game’s creation and opposed the politics behind it. “At Tetris, we believe in the power of connection and bringing people together, not dividing them,” the company wrote. It further added, “P.P.S. We take copyright infringement very seriously.”
This incident marks the latest in a series of disputes between the administration and intellectual property holders. In March, the Pokémon Company objected to the White House’s unauthorized use of imagery from Pokémon Pokopia, following earlier complaints about a Department of Homeland Security video that utilized Pokémon branding. Additionally, songs by Taylor Swift were removed from Trump campaign and White House social media posts, while artists such as Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter have publicly condemned the administration’s use of their music.
Other games introduced alongside “Build the Wall” also drew inspiration from well-known franchises. Promotional clips featured mechanics reminiscent of Snake and Flappy Bird, and one video depicted Sega’s startup logo morphing into the acronym “MAGA,” associated with President Donald Trump’s campaign slogan. Sega and Microsoft have not publicly commented on these adaptations.
Democratic lawmakers criticized the initiative, arguing that the administration was prioritizing entertainment over governance. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) stated, “Instead of creating policies that actually help people, the White House just rolled out arcade games. They need to spend less time playing and more time governing. Folks need affordable groceries, not games.” Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) and Connecticut state senator Matt Lesser echoed these sentiments, highlighting misplaced priorities amidst high inflation and fuel prices related to U.S. military involvement in Iran.
The White House defended the project in a statement to TIME, asserting that the administration is focused on innovating ways to highlight the president’s accomplishments. “This is an effort to further contrast between a culture of fun and winning and the dark socialist vision Democrats have for America,” the statement read.
The game’s title references Trump’s 2016 campaign pledge to construct a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and require Mexico to pay for it. A decade later, American taxpayers continue to fund the project, with hundreds of miles of the barrier still incomplete.
The irony of blocking connection while playing Tetris is not lost on me. Also, hello, copyright law?
Democrats are right to be annoyed, but using classic games feels like a weird distraction from actual inflation issues.
I never thought I’d see Tetris used for border politics. That copyright warning from the company was pretty harsh.