The Tetris Company threatened to sue the White House for copyright infringement after the launch of the video game "Build the Wall," inspired by Tetris mechanics. The company, based in Hawaii and Nevada, clarified through social media that it did not participate in the creation of the game and that it takes copyright infringement very seriously. The company also stated it believes "in the power of uniting people, not dividing them," sending a message of "love" to fans around the world.
The White House launched on Thursday the "Arcade" website, which brings together five retro video games inspired by policies promoted by President Donald Trump. In "Build the Wall," the player must fit pieces together to erect a barrier at the border, following a mechanic similar to Tetris. The official description presents the objective as building a wall to "protect the border from the approaching horde." The website also includes "Rio Run," inspired by the classic "Snake," where the user patrols the border along the Rio Grande to prevent people from crossing it.
The White House explained to the newspaper The Washington Examiner that the initiative seeks to "translate Trump's agenda into an interactive format" and "tell the story of his accomplishments" through language that can reach Americans. Combating illegal immigration was one of Donald Trump's main campaign promises during his victory in the 2024 presidential election, and his administration has frequently highlighted the harshness of arrests and deportations of citizens in irregular situations.
The Department of Homeland Security recently published a video showing Haitian immigrants handcuffed during a deportation operation, after Washington revoked a status that allowed those citizens to legally remain in the United States. The images, accompanied by music, were considered degrading and racist by opponents of Donald Trump. The department also revealed that it detained a "record" number of nearly 51,000 undocumented immigrants in August.
