White House Removes Border-Themed Game Following Tetris Company's Copyright Objection
The Trump administration pulled an arcade-style game called 'Build the Wall' from its website after the Tetris Company publicly stated it takes copyright infringement seriously. The game, which closely resembled Tetris, involved stacking blocks to construct a wall against a 'zombie border siege' and was widely criticized as racist. The game's page now returns a 404 error, while another controversial game, 'Rio Run,' remains accessible on the site.
The removal followed a public statement from the Tetris Company, which disavowed any involvement and asserted its commitment to protecting its intellectual property. The game's page now shows a 404 error, with Kotaku initially reporting its disappearance.
Another game, 'Rio Run', remains hosted, featuring a character tasked with deporting immigrants. TechCrunch has sought comment from the administration regarding the takedown.
The takedown could signal how intellectual property enforcement intersects with political messaging. While the removal addresses a specific copyright claim, it may also highlight the broader scrutiny of government-hosted content that targets marginalized groups. Users and advocacy groups could see this as a precedent for challenging offensive digital materials, whereas free-speech advocates might worry about censorship. The continued presence of 'Rio Run' suggests that the administration's content moderation remains inconsistent, potentially affecting public trust in official platforms.