Fealty to the King, Donald II

Substack edition 5 - Friday December 6, 2024

Substack edition 5 - Friday December 6, 2024

A Chaotic Dance of Politics and Power

As we wrap up another week, the world of editorial cartoons has been a vivid reflection of the tumultuous political landscape—one dominated by the looming presence of Donald Trump’s return to power.

I took a break from drawing all last week, but if you check my last newsletter post, you might not realize I was away. It featured some 2016 Trump reruns recontextualized for 2024! My sketches have been a whirlwind, capturing the chaos and absurdity that has become the hallmark of our times, with a special focus on the interplay between Canadian and American politics spanning the past ten years.

Are we getting used to it yet? Are voters in the U.S. experiencing buyer's remorse? Have our fears about Trump’s election turned out to be exaggerated?

The answer is a resounding no, no, and no. We are living in challenging times, filled with a pervasive sense of doom. In this atmosphere, there seems to be an unsettling feeling of… resignation.

Canada captured headlines over the weekend as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a discreet visit to Donald Trump's expansive estate in Florida for dinner. He became the first G7 leader to visit Mar-a-Lago since Trump's election in early November. The ensuing week was filled with speculation and discussions surrounding the details, nuances, and intrigue of this unexpected gathering.

The Trump Effect: A Spectacle of Corruption and Chaos

December 3, 2024

Tuesday marked my return from U.S. Thanksgiving festivities, where I found myself immersed in discussions about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recent visit to Mar-a-Lago. The media’s attempts to distill Canadian politics into bite-sized soundbites were both amusing and frustrating. While family debates raged on about football and pumpkin pie, the real chaos seemed to play out on the political stage.

The lack of unity within Canada’s leadership—especially in response to Trump’s 25% tariff threats—was glaringly evident. Federal and provincial leaders appear more concerned about their partisan interests than presenting a cohesive front. This disarray mirrors the anticipated turbulence of Trump 2.0, leaving Canada politically and economically vulnerable.

A Moment of Clarity: Shifting Focus to Doug Ford

December 4, 2024

On Wednesday, I took a brief detour from Trump to spotlight Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s mismanagement revealed in the Ontario Auditor General’s report. The fever I had complained about in a previous post had finally but only briefly broke. The staggering $1.8 billion cost overrun in the Ontario Place redevelopment, coupled with opaque bidding practices, warranted attention. My cartoon depicted Ford’s cavalier attitude amidst growing public discontent—an indictment of regional corruption that thrives in a landscape already saturated with eroded trust.

In this cartoon, the discarded Ontario Place sign symbolizes public trust being thrown away, while Ford nonchalantly muses about a newly branded “Crony Island.” This moment of clarity reminded me that local governance issues are not distractions from the Trump narrative; they are part of a larger, troubling pattern of governance that needs to be addressed.

A Diplomatic Dance: Poilievre (imagined) at the Court of Trump

December 5, 2024

Thursday brought a return to the Trump theme as I reflected on the diplomatic dance between Canadian leaders and the newly empowered American president. Trudeau, embodying polished diplomacy, and Poilievre, sharpening his populist rhetoric, are both vying for Trump’s favour in a high-stakes game that could redefine their political futures. “Canada First”, for the record, was repeated more times than ever in the past 7 days, than ever before, and it was uttered by the Wannabe PM, and sloganeer, Pierre Poilievre.

The Bengal Levee, by James Gillray, 1792

Hanging on my wall is a painted print of The Bengal Levee, a masterful depiction of colonial sycophancy that captivates with its rich detail and absurdity, prompting reflections on power dynamics and history, which I discovered years ago on eBay and couldn't resist owning.

Inspired by James Gillray’s satirical brilliance, my cartoon depicted the courtly sycophancy surrounding Trump. Poilievre, juggling bold policy proposals, aimed to out-Trump Trump, while Trudeau attempted to maintain a veneer of diplomatic grace. This absurd theatre of power highlights how little has changed in the political dance over centuries.

The Calm Before the Storm: Immigration Policies in Flux

December 6, 2024

Canada stands at a crossroads—will we embrace our tradition of inclusivity, or retreat into exclusionary policies? The cartoon serves as a stark reminder that the real human cost of political decisions often goes overlooked, and our response will shape not only our national identity but also our global reputation.

The Ongoing Narrative of Chaos and Accountability

June 29, 2016

Rerun of the week. While parallels can be drawn between the two Trump presidencies, there are notable differences in the tenor of Canada-Mexico relations, particularly with the involvement of Ontario Premier Doug Ford. In 2016 (June 29), under Prime Minister Trudeau and International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland, Canada sought to strengthen ties with Mexico amid rising populism and protectionist sentiments, especially in response to Trump's proposals for a border wall. In 2024, Ford has expressed concerns about trade agreements impacting Ontario's economy, which adds complexity to the current dynamic. Despite ongoing challenges, Trudeau and Freeland continue to advocate for strong North American partnerships, reflecting a commitment to cooperation even as political dynamics shift.

This week’s editorial cartoons have woven a narrative of chaos, accountability, and the absurdity of political life. Like it or not, Trump’s not going away, I invite you to subscribe to my Substack newsletter for weekly summaries and animated versions of my cartoons. Together, we’ll reflect on the ongoing saga of political power and its implications for Canadian society. Thank you for joining me on this journey—your support keeps the conversation alive.

Please subscribe to my Substack newsletter, if you haven’t already. Posts come out every Friday as I summarize the week that was in my editorial cartoons. They come out of “notes” posted daily to Substack which are used to help compose my weekly posts and showcase the animated versions of my daily editorial cartoons. Subscriptions will always be free – as long as my position remains as a staff editorial cartoonist. Thanks.