On January 28, 2019, the cartoon depicts President Donald Trump seated at an office desk, launching darts toward a globe with Venezuela prominently circled. The image shows multiple darts already embedded in the stand and one aimed from his raised hand. This reflects ongoing U.S. discussions about pressure on the Maduro government in Venezuela during that period.
Arend van Dam's 2019 cartoon captures the Venezuela crisis with a sinking ship named Venezuela, a man in a sash shouting 'I am your captain' from the top, while figures cling to the tilting deck and others flail in the water. The image uses the tags Venezuela, Maduro, dictator, interim president, Juan Guaidó, national assembly to highlight the political turmoil. The ship's bow points upward, with a periscope-like structure in flag colors, emphasizing the obvious metaphor of a nation going under. People on the deck hold on desperately, and swimmers raise arms, all drawn in simple lines against a blue sky and green sea. This straightforward satire avoids subtlety, making the leadership failure clear without added context.
Arend van Dam's 2018 cartoon captures Maduro as a busdriver recklessly joyriding the Venezuela bus off a cliff, a stark metaphor for mismanagement under the dictator in South America. The bus, marked prominently with 'Venezuela,' carries worried passengers, their faces showing distress as the vehicle leaves the winding road. This piece underscores the chaotic leadership steering the nation toward ruin, with tags like Maduro, Venezuela, busdriver, joyriding, mismanagement, and dictator emphasizing the satirical take on political turmoil. The clear lines and exaggerated motion lines add to the dramatic effect, making it a pointed commentary on governance failures.
