Trump Administration takes down Tetris clone after company warns it takes copyright violation 'very seriously'

A browser game featuring a clone of Tetris has been removed from the White House website following public criticism and warnings regarding copyright infringement from The Tetris Company. On September 4, 2026, the White House introduced an "Arcade" section featuring five policy-themed browser games mechanically similar to titles such as Snake, Flappy Bird, and Tetris. Among them was Build the Wall, a game themed around President Trump's push for a physical border wall along the southern border of the United States.

Shortly after the arcade's launch, The Tetris Company issued a statement on social media disavowing any involvement with the project and declaring that it takes copyright infringement very seriously. In the comments of the post, the company explicitly noted its lack of involvement and reiterated its strict stance on intellectual property. The Tetris Company became the first video game industry entity to directly criticize the administration's use of its intellectual property and see the corresponding iconography removed.

Build the Wall modified core Tetris mechanics by introducing alien invaders that attempt to breach assembled falling blocks, tying into the administrative use of the term "alien" for undocumented immigrants. Observations of the game prior to its removal noted that it lacked the traditional mechanic of clearing lines when completed, ensuring that players reached a "game over" state regardless of how high they built the wall. It remains unknown if direct communications from The Tetris Company prompted the removal, as a spokesperson declined to comment when contacted by industry publications.