The internet had one of its rare good days when GameStop and the White House decided to have some fun with memes depicting President Trump as Master Chief in Halo.
A Statement from GameStop pic.twitter.com/GraJAT69aI
— GameStop (@gamestop) October 25, 2025
It all began when GameStop’s official X account posted a cheeky message celebrating “the end of the 20-year Console Wars,” complete with memes depicting President Trump as a victorious mediator bringing peace between rival platforms. The post instantly went viral, with users on both sides of the gaming aisle sharing jokes, edits, and mock headlines celebrating the moment.
President Trump shakes hands with Master Chief from Halo – X, @GameStop
One of the most popular memes featured Trump shaking hands with Master Chief from Halo — a tongue-in-cheek nod to the legendary rivalry between Microsoft and Sony fans. Within hours, the memes had exploded across X, Reddit, and TikTok, sparking countless riffs and parodies.
The Fun Police Arrive: Gavin Newsom Weighs In
But just as gamers were having fun for once, California Governor Gavin Newsom’s Press Office decided to step in — and pour cold water all over it. In a widely mocked post, Newsom’s team tried to tie the memes to real-world economics.
Consoles: More expensive ✅
Games: More expensive ✅
Subscriptions: More expensive ✅Not sure the Trump Administration really wants to be talking about gaming right now… https://t.co/s5zeMfHzfb
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) October 27, 2025
“Consoles: More expensive ✅
Games: More expensive ✅
Subscriptions: More expensive ✅
Not sure the Trump Administration really wants to be talking about gaming right now…”
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice), October 26, 2025 [Verified]
The bizarre political jab seemed to miss the point entirely. GameStop’s post wasn’t policy commentary — it was a joke about the long-standing “Console Wars” finally ending, symbolically bridging the gap between Xbox and PlayStation gamers. But Newsom’s attempt to turn it into a talking point against President Trump was met with a near-universal eye roll.
— Marc Foxx (@RealMarcFoxx) October 27, 2025
Gamers flooded the replies mocking Newsom’s tone-deaf response.
The Reality Check
Ironically, while Newsom tried to pin gaming prices on the Trump Administration, most price hikes in the gaming industry have come from corporate decisions — not political policy. Major publishers like Sony, EA, and Ubisoft raised the standard price of new releases to $70 back in 2022, years before President Trump returned to office. Subscription costs like Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus increased under corporate restructuring and inflationary adjustments, not government tariffs.
Gavin Newsom speaking at Climate Week in NYC – Photo Credit: Office of the California Governor, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
As for consoles: while President Trump’s tariffs on Chinese imports are now active, many console makers such as Sony have already begun shifting production of U.S.-destined units outside China (e.g., to Vietnam and Malaysia) to limit direct exposure. As a result, pricing for systems like the PlayStation and Xbox currently appears driven more by inflation and corporate strategy than by direct tariff effects alone.
Gamers Side With the Meme
Despite the political noise, the real takeaway from all this is that GameStop managed to do the impossible — entertain gamers online, even if only for a day. Memes flooded timelines, GameStop’s engagement soared, and the internet collectively laughed at the absurdity of a governor inserting himself into a console peace treaty.
A meme from GameStop depicting President Trump and VP Vance in Halo – X, @GameStop
In a week when politics and entertainment clashed yet again, the gamers seemed to agree on one thing: the only thing more ridiculous than the console wars might be politicians trying to fight the meme wars.
