The administration of US President Donald Trump has launched a series of arcade-style games on the official White House website, using interactive entertainment to promote some of its key political priorities.
The games, introduced Thursday, include immigration and border security-themed challenges, as well as activities centred on Trump’s broader political agenda.
One of the games, “Rio Run,” allows players to patrol the Rio Grande and capture people described as “crossers.” Players earn points for each person caught, with the objective of achieving a high deportation score.
The game features an older white man in a blue tie as the player’s character, while those being captured appear in different skin tones. Once caught, the characters are shown wearing orange jumpsuits and following the player.
Another game, “Build The Wall,” challenges players to stack bricks while attempting to “hold the line” against what the game describes as a “zombie border siege.”
Other games on the White House arcade include one where players guide a bald eagle across the National Mall, while another allows users to collect diamonds and cash to fill their “kids’ Trump accounts.”
A White House official defended the initiative, describing it as an attempt to contrast the administration’s message with that of the opposition Democratic Party.
“This is an effort to further contrast between a culture of fun and winning and the dark socialist vision Democrats have for America,” the official said.
The launch has, however, attracted criticism, particularly over the administration’s increasingly aggressive use of official government platforms and social media to promote political messaging.
Critics have previously condemned the White House for posting images considered racist or offensive, including depictions of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in a sombrero and former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes in a jungle.
While some users have shared their scores from the new games on X, others have questioned the administration’s decision to focus on such content amid pressing issues including the war involving Iran and the rising cost of living.
The White House’s approach to its website was reportedly acknowledged by an administration official last year, who said the platform was not only intended to provide information but also serve as a tool for advancing the administration’s political message.
“The website is informative in a lot of different ways, but it’s also a vehicle to push our message, and we’re able to weaponize it in a way that no other administration has been able to do,” the official said.
