The White House launched a website called Arcade.Gov on September 3, 2026, offering several browser-based games centered on former President Trump's immigration and border policies, featuring racially charged content [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]. Among these games is "Build the Wall," a Tetris clone where players build a border wall to stop so-called "zombie aliens" crossing the southern border [1, 2, 9, 3, 10, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12].
On September 4, the Tetris Company issued a statement denying any involvement in or authorization for the game. A spokesperson said, "The Tetris Company was not involved in the creation of ‘Build the Wall’ and did not authorise or licence the Tetris brand or intellectual property for the game. We take copyright infringement very seriously" [1]. They added, "For more than 40 years, Tetris has brought people together across generations and cultures... The objective of the game has always been to stack with purpose to clear as many lines as possible. We are currently reviewing the matter" [9, 10].
Other titles on Arcade.Gov include "Rio Run," a Snake clone involving arresting immigrants; "Flappy Bill," a Flappy Bird-themed game featuring a bald eagle; "Trump Savings Tycoon"; and "Supply Line," a school lunch sorting game. The initial launch featured five or six games total [2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 12].
White House social media accounts promoted the games with slogans like "Build the wall. Deport. Fill a Trump Account. LIVE - PLAY NOW," and used imagery evoking major gaming brands such as Sega and Xbox [1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8]. A government spokesperson defended the releases, stating, "Through engaging posts and banger memes, we are successfully communicating the president's extremely popular agenda. There's a reason so many people try to copy our style - our message resonates" [3].
The releases have drawn widespread criticism from rights holders, advocacy groups, and the public over racist themes and alleged copyright infringements involving Tetris, Nintendo, and others [1, 2, 9, 3, 10, 4, 8, 11]. Although Tetris Company has taken a public stance against the infringement and is reviewing legal options, most other rights holders have remained silent or cautious of legal action so far, with only some private pressure reported [2, 9, 11].
The Tetris Company emphasized its mission of fostering connection and joy, stating, "At Tetris we believe in the power of connection and bringing people together, not dividing them" [9]. The company’s review of the White House's actions continues.
The controversy is ongoing following the website’s September 3 debut and the company’s September 4 statement. Further statements or legal moves from Tetris and other rights holders may emerge in the coming days.
