Donald Trump publicly asserted that the United States holds all leverage in dealings with Iran. The claim came amid ongoing tensions over nuclear issues and regional influence. Iran responded with actions that directly challenged that position. The editorial cartoon depicts the assertion as resting on an unstable foundation that Iran can readily disrupt. It frames the dynamic as one where bold statements outpace actual structural strength.
The cartoon by Adam Zyglis published March 1, 2019, shows President Donald Trump tumbling through the air above water with torn papers labeled N. Korea and Deal trailing behind him. An explosion labeled Vietnam sends smoke and debris skyward on the left. The caption reads Rocketman. The image responds to the collapse of the Trump-Kim summit in Hanoi, where no agreement on denuclearization was reached despite high expectations.
On October 22, 2009, Bob Englehart's cartoon shows a suburban couple on their front porch at night. Three tombstones labeled MY JOB, MY HOUSE and MY CAR stand in the yard next to jack-o'-lanterns. The woman tells her husband to take the decorations down because they are too scary. The image captures public anxiety over widespread job losses, foreclosures and repossessions during the Great Recession.
