The White House website has removed a Tetris-inspired digital game titled “Build The Wall” just days after The Tetris Company raised copyright concerns. The block-stacking game, which challenged players to construct a barrier to “protect the border,” was one of five arcade titles hosted on the presidential site.
The controversy began on 4 September when the official Tetris account on X stated that the company was not involved in the game’s creation and emphasized its strict stance on copyright infringement. In its initial response, The Tetris Company added, “At Tetris we believe in the power of connection and building people together, not dividing them,” while expressing gratitude to its global fanbase.
Although the White House did not provide an official explanation for the takedown and declined to comment for this report, the removal follows a pattern of legal enforcement by The Tetris Company. In 2012, the firm settled with the developers of the iPhone game Mino over claims that it mimicked the look and feel of the classic block-builder.
Four other games remain active on the White House arcade page, including “Flappy Bill,” an eagle-dodging clone of Flappy Bird, and “Rio Run,” a Snake-style simulation where players patrol a river and track a tally of those “deported.” The administration’s use of gaming aesthetics has sparked political backlash, with Connecticut Senator Matt Lesser criticizing the focus on such entertainment while heating oil prices reach historic highs.
This incident marks the latest example of the Trump administration incorporating video game culture into its political messaging. In October 2025, the official White House X account faced criticism for sharing an AI-generated image of President Trump wearing armor from the game Halo. Additionally, in March, the administration drew condemnation from voice actor Steve Downes and The Pokémon Company International after using clips from Halo and featuring Pikachu in a “Make America Great Again” meme.
Honestly, it’s wild that they are this casual about using licensed characters like Pikachu and Halo without permission.
The Tetris Company’s statement about building people together was pretty classy. Respect for standing firm on that.
Is Flappy Bill still up? I haven’t checked the site lately. Seems like a busy day for takedowns.
Why is the White House making political statements through mobile games? This feels incredibly trivial compared to heating oil prices.
I didn’t think Tetris could be copyrighted this tightly. Good to know they actually enforce their IP rights.