Donald Trump’s administration’s anti-immigrant policies have resurfaced through video games published on the White House website. The White House published five games, and it was reported that a sixth was on the way. In Rio Run, users patrol along the Rio Grande and apprehend immigrants crossing the border; the character in the game is said to be Tom Homan, whom Trump describes as his “border czar.” In Build The Wall, meanwhile, players stack bricks to defend the line against a “zombie border siege.” In the other games, players fly a bald eagle and collect diamonds and coins to fill “their children’s Trump accounts.” The White House said it published the games to demonstrate the difference between a culture of entertainment and winning and the Democrats’ “dark socialist vision.” Racist depictions targeting Hakeem Jeffries and Barack and Michelle Obama also drew backlash. As the war in Iran and the cost-of-living crisis continue, the post sparked debate about the administration’s priorities.
Why it matters
The presence of the games on the White House’s official website shows that immigration policy is being presented to the public not only through administrative decisions, but also through entertainment formats and the language of political campaigning. Turning immigrants into characters to be apprehended and the border into a line to be defended against a zombie siege raises questions about how the administration frames these groups and whether it renders the humanitarian consequences invisible. The racist depictions targeting Democratic politicians and the Obama couple have intensified the debate over the limits of language targeting political rivals in official communications. With the war in Iran and the cost-of-living crisis continuing, giving these types of content visibility on the official website has also deepened the debate over the White House’s priorities and which issues it brings before the public, and in what tone.