Entertainment over policy? White House arcade games ignite backlash

The US White House launched a website on Thursday that features classic arcade games with a MAGA twist, allowing players to deport migrants and construct a border wall. The release of the online games drew swift criticism from rights groups, who pointed out the timing amid the Trump administration's intensified mass arrest and deportation program targeting undocumented migrants.

One game, called Rio Run, is an updated version of Snake featuring a digital representation of US border czar Tom Homan pursuing migrants with various skin tones near the Rio Grande River on the Mexican border. Another game, based on Tetris, is titled Build the Wall, with instructions emphasizing the need to "protect the border from the coming horde."

A third game involves collecting nets for designated "Trump accounts" – investment accounts containing a $1,000 deposit for children born between 2025 and 2028. The White House's online presence on X posted a video with the MAGA logo, referencing the video game company Sega. A spokesperson for the White House claimed the initiative was aimed at innovatively communicating the president's accomplishments in a way that resonates with all Americans.

However, rights groups vehemently condemned the gaming website, deeming it dehumanizing and disrespectful towards migrants.