White House launches video game website promoting Trump's agenda
Screen shot of Arcade.gov
The White House has launched a new website with retro computer games promoting various pieces of President Donald Trump’s agenda, including a "Tetris" knockoff to "protect the border from the coming horde."
The White House announced Arcade on social media Friday.
What is Arcade.gov?
What we know:
Arcade.gov is a collection of five low-resolution video games.
"Build the Wall" is a "Tetris" knockoff that transforms the classic into a mission to "protect the border from the coming horde." In "Rio Run," which looks like the old phone game "Snake," an icon resembling Trump runs around detaining potential border crossers.
In "Supply Line," a version of the arcade game "Tapper," food moves along an assembly line and you must reject items that don’t meet "Make America Healthy Again" standards.
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In "Flappy Bill," an eagle carries a bill across the National Mall. In "Trump Savings Tycoon," your goal is to collect money flying through the air to "Fill your kids’ Trump Accounts," the administration savings plan that offers $1,000 to every child born during Trump’s term.’’
The White House’s announcement on social media came with a series of animations parodying Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo loading screens. In one such post, the Sega logo turns into "MAGA," as in Trump’s "Make America Great Again" slogan.
What we don't know:
The White House hasn’t said how much the website cost or whether taxpayer funds were used to build it.
What they're saying:
"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," a White House official said.
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Tetris responds
The other side:
In a statement Friday, The Tetris Company said it "was not involved in the creation of ‘Build the Wall’ and did not authorize or license the Tetris brand or intellectual property for the game."
Tetris also pointed out that the game’s original mission is to avoid building a wall.
"For more than 40 years, Tetris has brought people together across generations and cultures through play and joy. We are currently reviewing the matter."
"We take copyright infringement very seriously," the company said on Instagram.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a Texas Democrat, criticized the new site in a post on X.
"Instead of creating policies that actually help people, the White House just rolled out arcade games," she said.
"They need to spend less time playing and more time governing. Folks need affordable groceries, not games."
The Source: This article includes information from the White House’s Arcade.gov announcement, The Tetris Company’s Instagram account, Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s X account, The Associated Press, ABC News, and previous FOX Local reporting.