Arend van Dam's cartoon depicts a massive figure resembling Donald Trump, adorned with a crown and royal robe, perched atop a pedestal marked 'TRUMP.' A diverse group of protesters, holding signs reading 'NO KINGS,' 'NO,' and another 'NO,' tug on ropes attached to the figure's scepter, causing it to tilt as if being toppled in an act of resistance. The scene evokes themes of USA democracy clashing with autocracy, portraying a symbolic revolution against a would-be king or dictator. Protests and demonstrations fill the foreground, highlighting public outcry against unchecked power. Dated 2026, the artwork underscores ongoing concerns about authoritarian tendencies in politics.
The August 2025 cartoon by Dave Whamond depicts Donald Trump misunderstanding trade deficits by comparing them to an unpaid credit card bill. Trump complains that companies have been ripping the US off for years and none have bought anything from him. The scene uses a domestic table setting to highlight the former president's focus on imports over balanced trade metrics like exports of goods and services.
R.J. Matson's cartoon depicts a sunny beach where a man and woman apply sunscreen while gazing at a small airplane towing a long banner with text reading 'Happy Memorial Day to All, including the Human Scum that is the Judge who RIGGED the trial against Me! UNFAIR!!!' The scene includes beach umbrellas, a towel, and distant figures in the sand and water. Below, a caption states '"PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL DO ANYTHING TO GET AROUND A GAG ORDER!"' Tagging elements like Trump, gag order, Judge Merchan, trial, New York, 2024 presidential election, Memorial Day, the image satirizes efforts to evade legal restrictions through visible means like aerial messaging.
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.
