Trump
The satirical cartoons compiled in Trump poke cheeky fun at current events and political figures.
America’s forty-fifth president is the subject E. M. Fintan’s political and satirical Trump.
Moving from the 2016 presidential campaign toward the 2019 investigation into Trump’s alleged ties with Russia, Trump collects one hundred satirical cartoons about the current president. No subject is off-limits, from Trump’s shortcomings and scandals to his allies’ and supporters’ antics. There are occasional jabs at other political figures, including Bernie Sanders and Vladimir Putin, but the book’s focus is most on the commander-in-chief’s many memorable moments.
The entries move in chronological order from Trump’s first day on the campaign trail to the closing of the investigation into allegations of Trump-directed election interference. Bright, colorful images and a playful font give Trump the appearance of a children’s picture book, emphasizing the depiction of Trump as uninformed and immature. The humor is not child-friendly, however; it often references adult subjects like sexual harassment.
Recurring characters are drawn with default facial expressions meant to demonstrate their primary traits. Most notably, Trump always appears with the blank, dull look of a clueless man. It is a direct but effective means of conveying personalities. Many drawings are without backgrounds, instead focusing on the figure or figures being mocked. The white space does not serve every frame; in some cases, the missing backgrounds might have provided critical context to help with understanding the humor. When backgrounds are included, they are used to great effect, as with an image of Trump and his press secretary destroying a museum of artifacts labeled “truth,” “real news,” and “responsibility.”
The caricatures and situations parodied are recognizable, though knowledge of current events is required to appreciate many of the jokes. Some punchlines are little more than a statement or rude gesture; others involve humorous commentary on topics including Trump’s reputation for blaming others when things go wrong and his incendiary approach to foreign policy.
Much of this observational humor is familiar; it’s been covered by innumerable comedians and news anchors. Trump is nonetheless a diverting, wide-ranging romp that will amuse political enthusiasts.
Taking a breezy look back at the political upheaval of the past few years and serving as an irreverent reminder of events that may have gotten lost in the shuffle, the satirical cartoons compiled in Trump poke cheeky fun at current events and political figures.
Reviewed by
Eileen Gonzalez
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
