Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The Donald Trump administration has launched a series of arcade-style games on the official White House website, using an unconventional digital campaign to promote its political priorities and take aim at Democrats.
The online arcade, launched Thursday, features games centred on themes including immigration enforcement, border security, patriotism and Trump’s economic agenda. The move is the latest example of the administration’s aggressive use of the White House’s digital platforms to communicate its political message.
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One of the games, Rio Run, allows players to patrol the US-Mexico border along the Rio Grande and capture people attempting to cross. Players are instructed to “pick up every crosser in the lot” and earn a high score based on the number of deportations.
The game is designed in the style of the classic video game Snake. The player is represented by an older white man wearing a blue tie, while the people being captured appear in different skin tones. Once caught, the characters are shown wearing orange jumpsuits and following the player.
WHAT IS BUILD THE WALL?
Another immigration-themed game, Build The Wall, asks players to construct a border wall while holding off what the game describes as a “zombie border siege.” The game draws directly on Trump’s long-running political focus on border security and his push for stronger physical barriers along the southern border.
The arcade also includes games unrelated to immigration. In one, players control a bald eagle flying over the National Mall, while another asks users to collect diamonds and cash to fill their children’s “Trump accounts”.
A White House official defended the initiative, telling CNN that it was intended to create a contrast between what the administration described as a “culture of fun and winning” and what it called the Democrats’ “dark socialist vision” for America.
TRUMP ACTIVELY USING SOCIAL MEDIA FOR POLITICAL MESSAGING
The launch comes amid continued criticism of the Trump administration’s use of official government websites and social media accounts for political messaging. The White House has previously faced backlash over controversial and offensive imagery posted through its official platforms, including images targeting Democratic politicians.
While some users have shared their scores from the new games on X, others have questioned the administration’s decision to devote attention to the online arcade amid major concerns including the Iran war and the rising cost of living.
The initiative reflects the administration’s broader approach to the White House website as not merely an informational platform but also a tool for advancing its political message.
In November, CNN reported that an administration official described the website as a vehicle to promote the White House’s agenda and said the administration was able to “weaponise it” in ways previous administrations had not.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
