**White House Removes 'Build The Wall' Game Amid Copyright Concerns**
The White House has removed a controversial Tetris-style game titled "Build The Wall" from its official website following copyright concerns raised by The Tetris Company. The game, which allowed players to stack blocks in an effort to "protect the border," was one of five arcade-style games featured on the site.
The Tetris Company, which owns the rights to the iconic puzzle game, expressed its disapproval of the White House's game through a post on X (formerly Twitter) on September 4. The company stated that it was "not involved in the creation" of the game and emphasized its commitment to addressing copyright infringement seriously. In its response, Tetris highlighted its core belief in "the power of connection and building people together, not dividing them," signaling its discontent with the game's theme.
Despite multiple requests for comment, the White House has not provided an official explanation for the game's removal. The decision to take down "Build The Wall" follows a history of The Tetris Company successfully defending its intellectual property rights. Notably, in 2012, the company settled a lawsuit against the creators of the iPhone game Mino, which it claimed had copied the look and feel of Tetris.
While "Build The Wall" has been taken down, four other arcade games remain accessible on the White House website. These include "Flappy Bill," a game where players navigate a bald eagle while avoiding monuments, and "In Rio Run," which features gameplay reminiscent of the classic Snake game, where players patrol a river and track a "Deported" number indicating how many individuals they have caught.
The inclusion of these games on the White House website has drawn criticism from various political figures. Connecticut Democratic State Senator Matt Lesser commented on social media about the juxtaposition of the games with pressing issues, pointing out that while heating oil prices soar, citizens can engage with politically themed video games.
The incorporation of video game culture into political messaging has been a notable trend during the Trump administration. This has included various social media posts that blend gaming elements with political commentary. For instance, in October 2025, the official White House X account faced backlash for sharing an AI-generated image of President Trump styled as a character from the video game Halo. Additionally, a video posted in March that combined military footage with clips from popular media, including a voiceover from Halo's protagonist, sparked condemnation from the voice actor, who labeled the content as "disgusting and juvenile."
The Tetris Company's criticism of the "Build The Wall" game is part of a broader pattern of pushback against the use of copyrighted imagery and themes in political contexts. Earlier this year, the Pokémon Company International also expressed discontent when the White House utilized its character Pikachu in a meme associated with the "Make America Great Again" slogan.
As the White House navigates the intersection of politics and popular culture, the removal of "Build The Wall" signifies the ongoing complexities of copyright issues in the digital age. The situation raises questions about the appropriateness of using gaming culture for political messaging and the potential ramifications of infringing on intellectual property rights.