Trump launches video games with 'build the wall' and deportation missions
Donald Trump, President of the US (photo: Getty Images)
The administration of US President Donald Trump has decided to present part of its policy in an unusual format - through arcade video games. A new Arcade section featuring retro games that reflect key themes of the president’s agenda has appeared on the official White House website, according to Le Monde.
The new section is designed in the style of classic 1980s arcade games. Currently, five games are available, each linked to Trump’s immigration policy.
In the game Rio Run, users control a digital version of the US border "czar" Tom Homan. The player’s task is to pursue migrants attempting to cross the Rio Grande at the Mexican border and prevent them from entering the US.
Another game is titled Build the Wall: Zombie Border Siege. It is built on a mechanic similar to Tetris: the player must stack blocks to construct a border wall and stop the "assault" on the border. If the defense fails, a message about a breach appears on the screen.
Not just about migrants
Other games are dedicated not to immigration, but to other political priorities of Trump.
Flappy Bill is stylized after the popular Flappy Bird: the player controls a bald eagle flying over Washington. Supply Line offers sorting food items for school lunches in accordance with the administration’s healthy eating policy.
Another game, Trump Savings Tycoon, is related to the Trump Accounts program, which involves creating savings accounts for children.
Reaction to "gaming" policy
The launch sparked criticism because the administration effectively turned the deportation of people and the fight against illegal migration into entertainment.
Separately, attention was drawn to the game Build the Wall, which uses mechanics similar to Tetris. Representatives of The Tetris Company stated that they have no relation to this game and emphasized that the franchise was not involved in its creation.
The White House, in turn, presents the project as a way to convey the president’s policy to citizens in a more accessible and entertaining form. An administration representative stated that this is an attempt to counter what the White House calls the Democrats’ gloomy vision with a "culture of fun and victory."
What else is known about Trump’s immigration policy
The US President is paying even more attention to this issue than to the war in Iran or other domestic problems. For example, the Trump Administration suspended scheduling for visa interviews for applicants worldwide. The decision was made as part of a campaign to strengthen immigration control.
Additionally, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is preparing for a large-scale purchase of gloves equipped with shocker functions.
