Were National Guardsmen seen playing satire Iran war arcade game in DC?

A group that has erected statues in Washington DC satirizing President Donald Trump has a new installation — and this one is playable.

Secret Handshake, an anonymous art protest group behind a golden toilet statue near the Lincoln Memorial, a statue of Trump and Jeffrey Epstein holding hands and another that shows the two men embracing in a "Titanic" pose, have now installed three arcade games on the National Mall in DC.

Here's what to know about "Operation Epic Furious: Strait To Hell" and whether it's true that National Guardsmen were seen playing it.

What is Operation Epic Furious: Strait To Hell?

The game allows players to live as Trump as he interacts with several members of his administration, including Vice President JD Vance, FBI Director Kash Patel and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

Players are tasked with making decisions that impact the Iran war.

"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 said. "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."

A plaque beside the three arcade games placed at the DC War Memorial says the game is a "high-octane, flag-waving, boots-on-the-ground simulator where freedom isn't debated, it's deployed."

"Operation Epic Furious: Strait To Hell" will be at the National Mall for a few days, The Secret Handshake Said, and the game is also playable online.

Were National Guard members playing Trump arcade game?

A photo was shared on X on Tuesday of two National Guard members playing "Operation Epic Furious: Strait To Hell."

While some commenters debated if the photo was real or made with AI, the group behind the arcade games confirmed its legitimacy to USA TODAY.

The Secret Handshake said National Guardsmen are "exactly the audience" they'd love to play the game.

"We think it's wonderful to see people serving the country enjoying the game," the group said in an email. "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."