Trump, Iran war arcade-style video game installed on National Mall

May 11, 2026 - 20:40

A new interactive installation has popped up on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., drawing attention for its provocative theme. The display, set up by a local activist group, features an arcade-style video game that simulates a military conflict between the United States and Iran, with former President Donald Trump as the central character.

The game, which resembles a classic shooting gallery, allows players to take aim at targets representing Iranian military assets. The graphics and sound effects are deliberately cartoonish, but the underlying message is serious. Organizers say the installation is meant to criticize what they see as the Trump administration's aggressive foreign policy toward Iran, particularly the 2020 drone strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani.

Passersby have had mixed reactions. Some laughed at the retro arcade cabinet, while others expressed concern that the game trivializes the potential for real-world conflict. "It feels like we are turning a very dangerous situation into a joke," one visitor said. The group behind the installation has not commented on how long the game will remain on the Mall, but it is the latest in a series of politically charged displays targeting the former president and his policies.