The White House has removed a Tetris-style game from its virtual arcade after a wave of criticism from gaming fans and a statement from The Tetris Company distancing itself from the project. The game, titled Build The Wall, was part of a collection of politically charged titles launched earlier this week that drew heavy inspiration from retro classics.
Build The Wall encouraged players to “protect the border from the coming horde,” a framing that critics described as racist and inflammatory. The arcade also included Trump Saving Tycoon, a Duck Hunt-inspired title, and Rio Run, a Snake-inspired game that asks players to “patrol the line along the river [and] pick up every crosser in the lot.” The games were designed to promote policies associated with President Donald Trump.
The Tetris Company, which owns the rights to the iconic puzzle game, released a statement after being tagged by several gaming fans on social media. “At Tetris we believe in the power of connection and bringing people together, not dividing them. To our fans everywhere, we love you, we see you, and we’re grateful to have you in our community,” the company wrote on Instagram. In the caption, they added: “We take copyright infringement very seriously.”
Following the backlash, Build The Wall was removed from the White House website without any public explanation. The removal came as gaming fans urged other companies to take similar action, noting that the virtual arcade also used imagery associated with Nintendo, PlayStation, Sega, and Microsoft without apparent authorisation.
Earlier on the same day, the White House’s official X account shared a parody of The Legend of Zelda featuring Trump, prompting further criticism from fans. “Please Nintendo, the most anti-fan, litigious game company of all time, if you’re going to sue someone, sue these bozos,” one user wrote in response.
A White House official defended the arcade in a statement to The Washington Examiner. “This administration is laser focused on ways to innovate and tell the story of the President’s many accomplishments in a way that resonates with every American,” the official said. “This is an effort to further contrast between a culture of fun and winning and the dark socialist vision Democrats have for America.”
The incident highlights the growing tension between political messaging and intellectual property rights in the gaming industry. While the White House has positioned the arcade as a creative way to communicate its agenda, the use of recognisable game mechanics and imagery has raised legal and ethical questions. The Tetris Company’s statement, which emphasised both community values and copyright enforcement, suggests that further action could follow if other companies decide to pursue claims.
As of now, no other games have been removed from the arcade, and the White House has not commented on the status of the remaining titles. The episode underscores how the administration’s use of popular culture continues to generate debate, both about the content of its messaging and about the boundaries of borrowing from established creative works.