A new arcade game satirizing President Donald Trump’s war with Iran has appeared on the National Mall, created by the same group responsible for recent mocking statues in Washington, D.C. The game, titled “Operation Epic Furious: Strait to Hell,” is available for free on three arcade cabinets at the War Memorial, as well as online, according to Secret Handshake, the organization behind the installation.
Secret Handshake stated that the Trump administration has “gamified” war, using footage from video games like Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto in official military videos promoting the conflict with Iran. The group explained, “In Trump’s America, war isn’t just patriotic, it’s gamified. The only problem is those games aren’t actually about the Iran War and what it’s really accomplishing.” This prompted them to create what they call the first ultra-patriotic Iran War video game.
Game Features and Characters
The game includes caricatures of several Trump administration figures, such as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and FBI Director Kash Patel. It also features a fight between the president and a character named “Weak on Crime Pope,” referencing Trump’s recent criticism of Pope Leo XIV. Players can engage in “furious tweet battles against Iranian schoolgirls, low-flow shower heads, and other threats to American freedom like DEI and The Pope,” according to Secret Handshake. The game offers opportunities to collect “Trump style peace trophies,” but includes a twist: losing occurs if players try to hold Melania’s hand, and winning is impossible in the Middle East context.
Installation Details
The arcade cabinets are accompanied by a plaque explaining the game’s purpose. It reads, “The Trump administration knows that the best way to sell combat is by making it a video game, that’s why they’ve been pumping out the ‘sickest’ Iran War video game hype reels. But why stop at clips when you could go full throttle? Introducing Operation Epic Furious: Strait to Hell, a high-octane, flag-waving, boots-on-the-ground simulator where freedom isn’t debated, it’s deployed.”
Secret Handshake has previously placed controversial art installations in Washington, including a golden statue of Trump holding hands with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on the National Mall. Last month, they also installed a large gold-and-marble throne with a gilded toilet to criticize Trump’s bathroom remodeling during a government shutdown.
The White House has been contacted for comment but has not yet responded.
