US President Donald Trump is drawing attention again, including with his latest musings to make Canada the 51st state, unpredictable news conferences with world leaders and attempts to expand the legal limits of presidential powers.
While many of his actions have drawn the ire of Canadians since he began his second term in January, they have also inspired a group of teenagers from London, Ontario, who have created a new board game.
They say they are determined to “make board games great again.”
“It is important because “A lot of people don’t realize the things he’s done, so this is a way to speak up and defend himself because he really hasn’t been the nicest to Canada,” said Adam Palma, 15, one of the creators of American dictator.
The board game mocks what the group says are “questionable” decisions and behaviors by Trump, such as saying he would rename bodies of water (particularly the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America), talking about his “Big Beautiful Bill” focused on taxes and spending, and being the subject of high-profile court cases.
The goal of playing. american dictator is to seek to buy and take over American cities where a golf course, resort or tower could be built. A player who lands in another player’s city has to pay rent or may try to rob that city.
Resembling Monopoly, american dictator has special spaces where players can trap competitors in a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), use a Supreme Court judge to alter the rules of the game or go to a casino to bet for more money. Players must also draw cards from a deck of questionable decisions and pay a fine to others.
the game notes The growing tendency of Canadians to boycott travel to the United States. One of the questionable decisions cards. forces a player’s hotel to go bankrupt because Canadians have stopped visiting.
“They’re all questionable decisions that the president has made that will either go well for you or not so well. And they’re pretty fun,” said Ben Whitmill, 15, one of the game’s co-creators.
“He [decisions] It seems so fake and it’s a little crazy that he did all this. And it’s cool how we can bring it to a board game so everyone can hear it. “
The idea for the game came about Labor Day weekend, when Palma and six of his family friends were at their cabin in Grand Bend. Like many other teenagers, they were bored and without internet, so they decided to get creative, Palma said.
“We jI started thinking what it would be like if Trump played a board game. What would be the things he did and what would they look like? And we thought it would be really fun, so we started brainstorming ideas.”
The game aims to teach young people about politics.
Teens say many other young people have become interested in the current political climate now more than ever, and this game is the perfect way to start conversations and educate people in a light-hearted way.
“I think it’s really cool that even as kids we can do something that could potentially make a difference in society,” said 17-year-old Kiara Palma. “Especially if the game spreads, it could spread a message that is good for people to hear.”
Since the game went on sale last week for $50, there have been 25 purchases, none yet from American buyers. The group plans to create other games about geopolitics, including a version of Letters against humanity that would be called Letters against democracy.
The project is funded by the groups’ families and includes other products, such as t-shirts, mugs and other clothing. It can be purchased online.
Group members said they would love for the president to play. american dictatorif he finds out, and they would be curious to know his reaction.
As for what they hope players get out of the game, Palma said, “I want them to realize that we have to stand up for what’s right, even when it’s difficult. They’re not going to pressure us; we’re going to protect our country.”
