The White House of US President Donald Trump has unveiled a website featuring classic arcade games infused with 'MAGA' themes. These games allow players to engage in the deportation of migrants and the construction of a border wall.
The reaction from human rights organizations to the release of the online games was swift and critical, especially considering that the Trump administration has intensified its program of mass arrests and deportations of undocumented immigrants.
One of the games, titled Rio Run, is an updated version of the game Snake. In it, a digital representation of U.S. Border Patrol Sheriff Tom Holman pursues migrants of various races along the Rio Grande River on the Mexican border.
Another game, based on Tetris, is called Build the Wall. Its instructions read: 'Defend the border from the oncoming horde.' The third game involves collecting networks to deposit funds into so-called 'Trump accounts'—investment accounts designated for children born between 2025 and 2028, with an initial deposit of $1000.
The White House's account on X published a video featuring the 'Make America Great Again' (MAGA) logo stylized like a Sega video game manufacturer's logo. The video stated: 'YOU CAN'T STOP WINNING. Build the wall. Deportation. Fund Trump account.'
In a statement to AFP, the White House reported that 'this administration is focused on ways of innovation and telling about the numerous achievements of the president in a way that resonates with every American.' The statement also emphasized that this is an attempt at 'further contrast between the culture of fun and victory and the dark socialist vision of America held by Democrats.'
Human rights groups criticized the White House's gaming website. America Garcia Gruval, co-director of the Frontier Federation in Eagle Pass, Texas, told AFP: 'It makes me sick. They have been playing with people's lives for years, and now they made a video game about what they do.'
Game designers, in her opinion, 'have lost touch with what it means to be human and care for others.' Adriana Hassos, coordinator of AMIGOS San Diego Community programs who works on the border, noted that the arcade games demonstrate a fundamental 'lack of seriousness' on the part of the administration. She added that 'the cruelty, the extremity of the administration... no longer surprises,' and believes the White House intends to dehumanize and mock migrants even when people are dying in detention centers because 'it presents the problem as if it were a game, although it is not.'
Trump promised to deport millions of undocumented immigrants and, since returning to power, has taken several steps aimed at accelerating deportations and reducing border crossings. Meanwhile, his White House has long used social media campaigns to promote its stance and troll liberal opponents, and has also drawn negative reactions from several artists for using their music without permission.