Military, Measles, Skunks, and Quacks: Another Week in the Trump Era

Saturday June 14, 2025 | Substack Newsletter 31

My return to weekly posts on this platform marks a return to the reason I started: Donald Trump. I'm back after a sojourn from around the April federal election in Canada. Trump's influence was prominent in the headlines this week, from imposing tariffs and calling in the National Guard to address protesters in California to rising tensions with Iran, culminating in a lavish military parade presented as a birthday gift to himself.

If there’s one silver lining in the past seven days here in Canada, it’s the relative calm regarding our federal leadership—or the lack thereof. Since Trump’s election, it’s been quite a whirlwind, but I believe we’ve now settled into the reality of Mark Carney as our Prime Minister. This Sunday, he will welcome world leaders to the G7 summit on Canadian soil. With everything happening, it’s anyone’s guess what will unfold, but it’s a safe bet that all eyes will be on the distraction-in-chief himself.

With that context, let’s dive into this week’s review in cartoons featuring a couple of classics:

Monday, June 9, 2025: Trump Fiddles…This cartoon shows Trump as Nero, indifferent to the civil unrest sparked by his policies, particularly mass deportations. The image critiques his leadership style, suggesting he focuses on trivial matters while significant crises unfold around him. The historical reference highlights the consequences of negligence in governance. I’m sure there’s the thinking, oh, Trump fiddles as America burns, how original, but this is repurposed from April 2020 during his mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic. There’s been a lot of fiddling since then.

Skunk and Circumstance - In this cartoon, Trump is depicted in Roman armour riding a skunk, symbolizing his controversial persona amidst protests against immigration enforcement. This imagery emphasizes his polarizing influence and the ongoing conflicts between state and federal authorities. The smartphone and crooked sword suggest themes of control, reflecting the current political landscape. Again, this is repurposed from a 2017 cartoon that ran during the Russia probe.

Tuesday, June 10, 2025: Rebuilding Canada’s Military - This week is set to be significant for defence and military hardware. The much-anticipated Trump birthday parade will cap off the week, while Canada kicks things off with Prime Minister Mark Carney announcing major improvements to our defence capabilities, signalling a move away from lagging behind on the world stage. After all, we are still a G7 nation, and the timing of this announcement aligns perfectly with the upcoming summit on our shores. Canada is committing $9 billion to defence spending to address global threats, meet NATO expectations, bowing to Trump’s pressures, all while balancing our national interests.

Wednesday, June 11, 2025: Quack Vacancy Fillers - The cartoon featuring RFK Jr. replacing vaccine experts with ducks highlights a significant yet underreported event: RFK Jr.'s act of firing a panel of vaccine specialists at the CDC. Normally, such a decision would dominate headlines, but it was overshadowed by distractions. This scenario highlights the Democrats' struggle to counter conspiracy theories and anti-science sentiments. Once critical of Trump as a "master of distraction," they now face similar criticism for their inability to focus on pressing issues like public health and climate change. The imagery and the buried story emphasize the need for stronger leadership to prioritize science and truth over distractions, as weak opposition allows important challenges to go unaddressed.

This cartoon from 2019 underscores the clash between science and conspiracy theories during a measles outbreak caused by vaccine hesitancy, highlighting the struggle to counter misinformation and the need for leadership to prioritize public health.

Thursday, June 12, 2025: Happy Proud Parents Day - I didn’t share a Thursday cartoon today because I took a break from my doodling to proudly attend my daughter Gillian Leigh MacKay's graduation ceremony. She graduated with an Honours Arts degree (*with distinction, I should add) from the University of Guelph. My wife Wendi and Gillian's sister Jackie are thrilled with this milestone, and we are all incredibly proud of her as she prepares to begin graduate studies at Humber Polytechnic in Toronto this fall.

Friday, June 13, 2025: All Eyes on Toddler Trump at the G7 Summit - Speaking of housekeeping announcements, the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, is set against global tensions like the Iran-Israel conflict and unrest in the U.S. This is captured in a cartoon where Prime Minister Mark Carney advises on “emergency exits,” highlighting the unpredictability of Donald Trump’s presence. This summit is expected to be short on substance and bigger on photo ops, reflecting the challenge of managing potential disruptions while aiming for international cooperation. Despite these complexities, the event symbolizes an opportunity for unity and progress, though its impact may be more symbolic than substantial. It will certainly give Canada’s new PM, Mark Carney, a chance to shine, even if his role may be little more than that of a theatre announcer.

In a 2017 cartoon, a G7 Summit setup humorously features a high chair and sippy cup with a U.S. flag, poking fun at Donald Trump's participation. A security agent's assurance that the venue is "secured, ready for VIPs" adds a playful twist, highlighting the unique dynamics of the meeting.

Saturday, June 14, 2025: Israel/Iran Rains on Trump’s Parade - As tensions between Israel and Iran dangerously escalate, the planned military parade in Washington, D.C., on June 14, 2025, underscores a troubling misalignment of priorities. While showcasing military might, it risks sending the wrong message amid global calls for dialogue. Meanwhile, the U.S. grapples with rising internal tensions, as ICE intensifies deportations through workplace raids and the National Guard is called to manage growing hostility from protesters in California. Amid these challenges, the parade's $25 million spectacle reflects leadership focused on grandeur over substance, diverting attention from urgent issues. Adding to this is the eyebrow-raising coincidence that it falls on Donald Trump’s 79th birthday—though the administration insists it’s a long-planned celebration of the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary, initially set for July 4 until Trump intervened. In these critical times, America must decide whether to be a beacon of peace and diplomacy or continue down a path that risks deepening divisions both at home and abroad.

This week has been a blend of spectacle and substance, with Donald Trump's influence hanging over U.S. and Canadian politics like a piñata at a birthday party. As we sift through the distractions and dramatic moments, it’s important to keep our eyes on the real issues. With the G7 Summit coming up, everyone will be watching to see if leaders can actually hold a meaningful conversation instead of just trading barbs and dodging the chaos like it’s a game of dodgeball.

The week that was in 2 minutes and 17 seconds. Please enjoy this magical making-of extravaganza for the editorial cartoons above in animated wonderfulness:

Thank you to everyone who subscribes as I resume my weekly newsletter! I strive to post every Saturday morning, summarizing the week with my editorial cartoons while keeping notifications to a minimum. During the week, I share notes on Substack that enhance the newsletters and include animated versions of my cartoons.

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