An anonymous art collective known for a controversial statue of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein has opened a new exhibition mocking the administration's foreign policy just miles from Mar-a-Lago. The group, called The Secret Handshake, launched a weeklong pop-up exhibition at Mtn Space, a gallery in Lake Worth Beach, running through Friday, May 22. The interactive display features a functional, retro-style arcade cabinet that parodies the Trump administration's communications surrounding the conflict with Iran.
Game Details
The piece, titled “Operation Epic Furious: Strait to Hell,” was originally unveiled as a three-cabinet installation at the D.C. War Memorial in Washington. “In Trump’s America, war isn’t just patriotic, it’s gamified,” The Secret Handshake said in a statement. “The administration is using footage from video games like Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto in official military videos promoting the conflict with Iran. The only problem is those games aren’t actually about the Iran War and what it’s really accomplishing.”
Visually modeled after classic role-playing games, the interactive simulation places players in control of a pixelated version of Trump. The objective involves navigating a digital White House, collecting oil barrels and generating ideas for Truth Social posts in an effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. “The game features furious tweet battles against Iranian schoolgirls, low-flow shower heads, and other threats to American freedom like DEI and The Pope, and an opportunity to collect several Trump style peace trophies,” the collective said. “Just to save you time, the only way you can lose by trying to hold Melania’s hand. But it’s The Middle East, so you also can’t win either.”
Satirical Elements
An accompanying exhibition plaque outlines the premise for visitors. “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,” the plaque reads. The game includes appearances from prominent administration figures, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, FBI Director Kash Patel and Elon Musk. Players engage in combat with stylized adversaries, using caricature moves such as a “Mar-a-Lazer.”
The artists designed the game to be mathematically impossible to win, aiming to critique the cyclical nature of modern military engagements. Players can trigger an immediate “game over” sequence early in the simulation. In an opening scene referencing first lady Melania Trump’s press conference regarding Jeffrey Epstein, the digital character asks the player if they have “burned the files.” If the player attempts to hold her hand instead, the game abruptly ends.
Artist Background
The Secret Handshake describes itself as a small group of citizens using humor to prompt broader political discourse. The collective has previously claimed responsibility for several public art installations, including an eight-foot sculpture titled “Dictator Approved” and a golden monument depicting Trump and Epstein in a pose mirroring the film Titanic. The exhibition is open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The White House has not issued a formal response regarding the art installation or the digital version of the game, which organizers claim has been accessed online more than 250,000 times. The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.
