White House Pulls Tetris-Like Build the Wall Game After Copyright Complaint
The White House removed its Tetris-like Build the Wall game after a copyright complaint, while the immigrant-deportation game Rio Run remains available online.
Summary
By 4:23 p.m. PDT on September 8, 2026, the White House had removed Build the Wall, one of several arcade-style games recently added to the Trump administration’s website. Its page now returns a 404 error. The game reportedly mirrored Tetris gameplay by having players stack differently shaped blocks into a barrier against a “zombie border siege,” drawing widespread criticism as racist.
The Tetris Company, which owns the original game’s rights, said on Instagram that it had no involvement in Build the Wall and takes copyright infringement seriously. A Trump administration response was unavailable. Rio Run remains on the government website, letting players control a white male character seeking to deport as many immigrant characters as possible.
Positives
- By September 8, 2026, the White House had removed Build the Wall, with its page returning a 404 error.
- The Tetris Company publicly clarified on Instagram that it had no involvement in creating Build the Wall.
- The Tetris Company explicitly affirmed that it treats copyright infringement seriously.
Risks & concerns
- Build the Wall was widely criticized as racist for framing immigration as a “zombie border siege.”
- The game reportedly mirrored Tetris gameplay without the Tetris Company’s involvement, prompting a copyright dispute.
- Rio Run remains online, rewarding players for deporting immigrant characters through a white male avatar.
- A Trump administration response was unavailable at 4:23 p.m. PDT on September 8, 2026.