Full Breakdown
Satirical Arcade Game Installation Mocks Trump Administration’s Iran War
5/11/2026, 11:31:46 PM
Operation Epic Furious: Strait to Hell at the D.C. War Memorial
On a Monday, the anonymous activist group Secret Handshake placed three fully functional arcade cabinets featuring a satirical game titled “Operation Epic Furious: Strait to Hell” at the District of Columbia War Memorial near the reflecting pool in West Potomac Park; an online version is also available.
Background & Context
Secret Handshake previously installed a statue depicting Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, and says the arcade games respond to the Trump administration’s use of video-game clips such as Call of Duty and Wii Sports in official social-media posts promoting the Iran operation, which the Pentagon named Operation Epic Fury and began on Feb. 28, 2024.
On-the-Ground Reports
The cabinets display cartoonish images of President Donald Trump alongside caricatures of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and FBI Director Kash Patel. A plaque reads: “The Trump administration knows that the best way to sell combat is by making it a video game…” The installation is slated to remain for several days, and the game can be played online.
Official Statements & Responses
Secret Handshake described the installation as a critique of “gamified” war propaganda, stating that “In Trump's America, war isn’t just patriotic, it’s gamified.” The group also noted that the only way to lose in the game is “trying to hold Melania’s hand,” underscoring perceived absurdities in the administration’s rhetoric and that the game’s satire targets the administration’s media strategy. The White House has not issued an official comment.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Just to save you time, the only way you can lose is by trying to hold Melania’s hand. But it’s The Middle East, so you also can’t win either,” — Secret Handshake
- “A plaque next to the machines states: “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.” — Secret Handshake
- “The game features furious tweet battles against Iranian schoolgirls, low-flow shower heads, and other threats to American freedom like DEI and The Pope.” — Secret Handshake
- “The Secret Hand/The Secret Handshake The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the video game.” — The Daily Beast
What’s Next
Secret Handshake has posted the game on a dedicated website for remote players. The physical cabinets are expected to be removed after the scheduled display period, though no specific removal date has been announced.
