The cartoon by Graeme MacKay contrasts Theodore Roosevelt's famous speak softly and carry a big stick approach with Donald Trump's version of yelling loudly and spinning a stick covered in tariffs. In the lower panel Trump appears dizzy from the motion as a Canadian hand offers toilet tissue labeled tariff-free wipes. The image comments on recent US tariff actions and their impact on Canadian trade relations as of the September 2026 publication date.
The United States has extended a zero-tariff policy offer to African nations amid ongoing global trade tensions. This move stands in contrast to simultaneous use of tariffs and sanctions against other trading partners. The policy highlights selective economic engagement by Washington. The editorial position criticizes the inconsistency between the overture to Africa and the punitive approach applied more broadly.
Public attention is being directed toward simultaneous Iran and trade conflicts as potential diversions from other issues. The editorial depicts the two crises as interchangeable distractions promoted by the same source. It argues that leaders are using these flashpoints to shift focus rather than address underlying problems.
Donald Trump expanded tariffs across trading partners in mid-2026, triggering immediate market volatility and diplomatic pushback. The move raised costs for consumers and businesses reliant on imports. The piece portrays the policy as an indiscriminate barrage that disrupts daily life and global commerce.
President Trump escalates tariffs on trading partners including Canada in mid-2026. The move targets imports amid ongoing disputes over trade balances and supply chains. Allies respond with coordinated pushback through diplomatic and economic channels. The cartoon casts the confrontation as a one-sided power play by the oversized tariff wielder against smaller coordinated opponents.
The cartoon shows Canada as a beaver facing a game show choice between monstrous figures representing the USA under Trump and China under Xi. A newspaper references Mark Carney in China amid ongoing trade tensions and protectionism.
On September 6, 2025, Patrick Chappatte depicts Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi forming an alliance explicitly aimed at Donald Trump. The red banner above them reads Alliance of Those Pissed Off by Trump. Modi suggests Canada may join next. The scene places the three leaders at the center of a building entrance with other figures in the background. The cartoon highlights tensions in international relations tied to recent U.S. policy shifts under Trump.
Graeme MacKay's cartoon depicts a stage parody of American Idol called Trump Idol, where a crowned Donald Trump judges world leaders performing acts related to reciprocal tariffs. A figure resembling Mark Carney bows in a top hat, having performed a disappearing act on tariffs, while a kangaroo-costumed character waits, labeled as Australia's Anthony Albanese. A Statue of Liberty figure holds a sign for E Macron France, and a box reads Carney The Great with a Canadian flag. The scene satirizes trade, diplomacy, economy, trust, and international relationships under Trump's strategy, with a bald advisor announcing the next act to 'Your Majesty.' The backdrop emphasizes reciprocal tariffs, blending protest and boycott themes in a humorous critique of USMCA and global partnerships.
On July 11, 2025, a cartoon depicts the White House with a crossed on-off weather vane atop its roof. A suited man and a woman stand on the lawn, the latter stating in a speech bubble that the issue concerns tariffs rather than weather. The image responds to ongoing Trump administration tariff measures and resulting trade frictions affecting markets and Republican priorities.
