'Operation Epic Furious': Trump parody game with JD Vance, Pete Hegseth hits National Mall

The National Mall is known for hosting political statements, but its newest addition swaps traditional artwork for video game satire. The Secret Handshake, an anonymous art group known for its symbolic criticism of President Donald Trump and his policies, recently installed arcade video games satirizing the Iran war on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Named 'Operation Epic Furious: Strait to Hell', the installation features three free arcade cabinets, letting visitors play a game that critiques the Trump administration's foreign policy and culture wars.

The group, known for installing a golden toilet near the Lincoln Memorial and a 'Titanic'-themed statue of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, has shifted from static sculptures to interactive art. In 'Operation Epic Furious', players take on the role of the President and navigate a virtual conflict in Iran. To move forward, they interact with digital versions of top officials like Vice President J.D. Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and FBI Director Kash Patel.

The game skips traditional arcade fighting. There are no guns or shooting; instead, players manage resources and use social media to wage their battles. The main goal is to gather oil barrels and collect enough Truth Social posts to open the Strait of Hormuz. A plaque next to the machines calls it a "high-octane, flag-waving, boots-on-the-ground simulator where freedom isn't debated, it's deployed." The game's introduction adds a darkly funny note: "No briefings, no hesitation, just pure pixelated patriotism. Strap in and play hard, because this game may never end." 

The creators say the missions go beyond politics. "The game features furious tweet battles against Iranian schoolgirls, low-flow shower heads and other threats to American freedom like DEI and The Pope," the Secret Handshake was quoted by USA Today as saying. "And 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."

The installation quickly got attention online when a photo appeared on X showing two National Guard members playing the game. Some people at first thought the image was fake, but the art group confirmed it was real. "We think it's wonderful to see people serving the country enjoying the game," the group told USA Today, making it clear their satire is aimed at the executive branch. "When we made this, we made sure that the comedy and the critique is wholly toward the Administration, not the military and certainly not the people serving in it."

The arcade cabinets will only be on the Mall for a few days, but the project’s online presence is growing fast. The Washington Post reported that the game's online version had already been downloaded over 14,000 times on Monday. At the time of writing this article, the administration had yet to respond to the satirical game.