White House Pulls Tetris‑Style “Build The Wall” Game Over Copyright Concern

The White House’s website featured a Tetris‑inspired mini‑game called Build The Wall, where players stacked blocks to fend off a mock “border” threat. The game was one of five arcade titles on the site and was removed shortly after The Tetris Company expressed concerns over the use of its iconic gameplay mechanics.

On 4 September, the official Tetris X account tweeted that it was not involved in creating the game and that it takes copyright infringement seriously. The White House has not yet released an official statement explaining the takedown.

The firm’s response echoed its stance on fan communities: "At Tetris we believe in the power of connection and building people together, not dividing them." It also thanked users for their support.

The Tetris Company has previously sued companies for generic block‑builder IP, most notably settling a claim with the 2012 iPhone game Mino for an undisclosed fee.

Four other arcade games remain on the White House mini‑game section: Flappy Bill (a nod to the 2013 hit Flappy Bird), Rio Run (a Snake‑style game that tracks a border line), Border Tsar Tom Homan (a border‑siege mini‑game), and an unnamed fifth title.

Video Games and The White House

The Trump administration’s online presence has increasingly relied on gaming culture for political messaging. In October 2025, the White House X account posted an AI‑generated image of President Trump in Halo armor, provoking backlash. A March video blended footage of U.S. military strikes in Iran with a Master Chief clip from Halo, leading the voice actor Steve Downes to condemn the usage.

The Pokémon Company International also criticized the White House in March for a meme featuring Pikachu with the slogan "Make America Great Again."

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