Tetris Responds After Trump Administration Launches ‘Build the Wall’ Clone Game
The Trump administration’s White House has launched a collection of arcade-style games on Arcade.Gov, featuring reimagined versions of classic games with politically-themed content. Among the offerings are “Build the Wall” (modeled on Tetris), “Flappy Bill” (based on Flappy Bird), and “Rio Run” (based on Snake).
“Build the Wall” tasks players with stacking interlocking shapes to prevent what the administration describes as a “zombie border siege” or “coming horde” from crossing the southern border. The game depicts noncitizens—referred to in the administration’s framing as “aliens”—attempting to breach the border, with players required to stop them through gameplay mechanics directly borrowed from Tetris.
The Tetris Company, known for rigorously protecting its intellectual property, has formally responded to the unauthorized use of its game mechanics. In an official statement, the company stated: “At Tetris we believe in the power of connection and bringing people together, not dividing them.” The company emphasized its commitment to unity over division, directly rejecting the divisive messaging embedded in the clone.
The incident highlights the video game industry’s inconsistent enforcement of intellectual property rights and raises questions about using recognizable game formats to promote controversial political messaging. Multiple outlets characterized the games as racist, particularly in their depiction of border crossing as an adversarial threat. The White House’s initiative represents a rare instance where a major IP holder publicly objected to a government-produced knockoff, contrasting with previous instances where similar appropriations went largely unchallenged by the industry.