Fact Check: Did Trump Say He’ll Ban Video Games?

Video games have been a repeated target for decades of politicians trying to draw a connection between real-world acts of violence and violence depicted in titles such as Grand Theft Auto.

Although there is little reliable evidence of a causal link, video games have been repeatedly blamed since the Columbine shooting in 1999, and politicians such as Hillary Clinton have led campaigns against them.

The debate seemed to reach fever pitch again this week when clips of Donald Trump suggesting he would ban video games if elected were shared online.

The claim

Several posts shared on X, formerly Twitter, claimed that Donald Trump had announced he would “ban video games.”

A post from user David Leavitt on October 15, 2024, which has been viewed 8.1 million times, said: “Donald Trump says he will ban video games.”

“Retweet if you think he just lost the Millennial and Gen Z vote.”

A post from user @EliteGamerHaven on October 15, 2024 said: “Wait, Donald Trump wants to ban video games and I’m not making this up.”

Each of the posts included a video in which Trump said: “We must stop the glorification of violence in our society.”

“This also includes the cruel and horrific video games that are commonplace today. Today, it is too easy for troubled youth to surround themselves with a culture that celebrates violence.”

“We need to stop or significantly reduce this and it needs to start immediately,”

The facts

Trump’s video was trending on X this week, organized by X in a stream of posts called “Trump’s Proposal to Ban Video Games.”

However, there is no evidence that Trump plans to ban video games or violent video games if elected. Additionally, the video shared on social media is taken out of context.

The clip is from 2019, when Trump made a public statement following back-to-back mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio. The gunman in the El Paso shooting briefly mentioned the fight game Call of duty in a hateful, anti-immigrant manifesto posted online shortly before the attack.

In 2018, following the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, Trump expressed his view that video games may have had an influence.

“I’m hearing more and more people say that the level of violence in video games is really shaping young people’s minds,” Trump said in February 2018. That year, he met with representatives from video game publishers, industry associations and video game critics Summit announced plans to combat mass shootings, particularly at schools.

However, these measures did not appear to result in new regulations on the sale or content of video games. The claim that Trump was considering a ban appeared to be derived from his statements.

While Trump has not said he would go back on his word to “stop or significantly restrict young people’s access to violent video games,” it does not appear to have been part of his 2024 presidential campaign either. Newsweek found no recent statements or political announcements about video games from the Republican camp.

Newsweek has reached out to a Donald Trump media representative for comment.

The verdict

INCORRECT.

There is no evidence that Donald Trump wants to ban video games. A video shared online five years ago showed Trump calling for “immediate” action to “stop the glorification of violence in our society,” including “violent video games.” The comments came in the wake of two mass shootings.

This video was recently shared, making it appear that he may seek a ban if elected. However, Trump has not explicitly called for a ban, nor does he appear to have made it a priority or goal of this campaign.

FACT CHECK BY Newsweek’s fact checking team