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Ayatolla

Friday February 21, 2025

February 21, 2025 by Graeme MacKay

 Trump's revisionist narrative on the Ukraine invasion threatens democratic alliances by aligning with authoritarian rhetoric.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday February 21, 2025 (also, The Toronto Star)

Trump’s Dangerous Dance with Authoritarianism: Rewriting Reality

The convergence of Elon Musk’s influence over U.S. elections, Donald Trump’s authoritarian ambitions, and Vladimir Putin’s geopolitical agenda feels eerily like the unfolding of a real-life James Bond thriller, with democracy and global security hanging in the balance.

October 26, 2024

In a world increasingly fraught with geopolitical tensions and the stark realities of authoritarian aggression, the responsibility of democratic nations to uphold truth and justice has never been more critical. As former President Donald Trump seeks to rewrite history by casting Ukraine as a villain and its leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as a dictator, it is imperative that the global community stands united against this dangerous narrative.

The facts are clear and undisputed: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 was an unprovoked act of aggression, a blatant breach of international law, and a humanitarian disaster that has claimed countless innocent lives. Ukraine, under the steadfast leadership of Zelenskyy, has fought valiantly to defend its sovereignty and democratic principles against an authoritarian regime bent on its destruction.

The fall of Assad’s regime in Syria marks a crushing blow to Putin and Iran, stripping them of a key ally and undermining their influence in the Middle East.

December 10, 2024

Trump’s recent comments not only distort these truths but also align disturbingly with the playbook of authoritarian leaders like Vladimir Putin, a man widely recognized as a war criminal due to his regime’s actions in Ukraine. By shifting blame onto the victim of this brutal conflict, Trump undermines the very principles of justice and democracy that the United States and its allies have long championed.

As highlighted in a New York Times piece by Peter Baker, Trump’s revisionism involves “a striking distortion of reality,” where he falsely accuses Ukraine of initiating the conflict and portrays Zelenskyy as a “dictator without elections.” Such rhetoric not only misleads but also endangers the fragile alliances and support systems that have been built to uphold international law and order.

News: Trump Flips the Script on the Ukraine War, Blaming Zelensky Not Putin

Donald Trump's proposals to end the Ukraine war by conceding territory to Russia undermine the Ukrainian people's fight for sovereignty and should not dictate the fate of a nation fighting for its freedom.

September 28, 2024

This revisionist rhetoric poses a grave threat to the established world order, one that has, despite its imperfections, largely sought to promote peace, stability, and human rights. By sowing doubt and division, Trump risks weakening the unity of Western nations and emboldening authoritarian regimes that see opportunity in discord.

It is incumbent upon the leaders of democratic nations, including those in Europe, Canada, the UK, and beyond, to resist this dangerous narrative. Silence in the face of such blatant misinformation and revisionism is not an option. To remain silent is to tacitly endorse a worldview that values power over principle, lies over truth, and tyranny over freedom.

Donald Trump's recent remarks, cheering on aggression against NATO countries, and Canada's position as a buffer between Russia and potential U.S. instability, highlight the urgent need for a rethink on global security.

February 13, 2024

As one courageous GOP congressman pointed out, Vladimir Putin’s actions warrant the label of war criminal, a fact that cannot be ignored or softened by political expediency. It is a moral and ethical imperative for politicians, regardless of party affiliation, to speak out against any attempt to rehabilitate or justify his regime’s actions.

History will judge those who, in a time of moral crisis, chose the path of least resistance. It will remember those who stood by and allowed truth to be eclipsed by falsehoods for political gain. But it will also honour those who had the courage to speak out, to defend the values of democracy and human rights, and to stand with the oppressed against their oppressors.

In this pivotal moment, the global community must reaffirm its commitment to these principles. We must reject revisionism, support the victims of aggression, and hold accountable those who seek to distort reality for their own ends. Only by doing so can we hope to preserve the fragile peace and order that so many have fought and died to protect.


Today, I poured my creativity into crafting a cartoon that tackles a situation fraught with serious implications. The focus was on former President Donald Trump’s recent statements about Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia. Despite the cartoon’s lighthearted approach, the underlying issues are deeply concerning.

It’s telling that a lot of people say everything Trump says is a lie, reflecting a widespread skepticism and mistrust. This perception adds a layer of complexity, especially as Trump leads efforts to broker peace in a critical conflict with questionable intentions. Many still believe him, which only deepens the divide between those who seek truth and those who follow his narrative.

While the cartoon aims to entertain, it also highlights the troubling reality of misleading rhetoric. It underscores my worry about the direction of global politics and the urgent need for leaders who prioritize truth and genuine peace efforts.

Please check out my making-of animated editorial cartoon for February 21, 2025, below! If you haven’t yet, please subscribe to my Substack newsletter, where I release my post every Saturday morning summarizing the week through my editorial cartoons. What you’re reading here is a “note,” designed to help craft my weekly posts and display the animated versions of my daily cartoons. Enjoy!

– The Graeme Gallery

Read on Substack

Posted in: International, USA Tagged: 2025-04, aggression, alliances, authoritarianism, Ayatolla, bear, China, circus, Democracy, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Iran, Kim Jong Un, North Korea, revisionism, rhetoric, Russia, Ukraine, USA, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Xi Jinping

Wednesday March 9, 2022

March 9, 2022 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday March 9, 2022

U.S. and U.K. ban Russian oil imports in huge escalation of sanctions

December 24, 2018

President Joe Biden said the U.S. will ban imports of Russian fossil fuels including oil, a major escalation of Western efforts to hobble Russia’s economy that will further strain global crude markets.

“The United States is targeting the main artery of Russia’s economy,” Biden said Tuesday in Washington. “We will not be part of subsidizing Putin’s war.”

The U.S. move will be matched in part by the U.K., which announced a ban on Russian oil imports on Tuesday, though it will continue to allow natural gas and coal from the country. Other European nations that rely more heavily on Russian fuels will not participate.

Russian oil made up about 3 per cent of all the crude shipments that arrived in the U.S. last year. When other petroleum products are included, such as unfinished fuel oil that can be used to produce gasoline and diesel, Russia accounted for about 8 per cent of 2021 oil imports, though those shipments have also trended lower in recent months.

Posted in: International, USA Tagged: 2022-09, Ali Khamenei, Ayatolla, blood, Boris Johnson, Iran, Joe Biden, Mohammed bin Salman, Nicolás Maduro, oil, Russia, sanctions, Saudi Arabia, UK, Ukraine, USA, venezuela, Vladimir Putin, world

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This website contains satirical commentaries of current events going back several decades. Some readers may not share this sense of humour nor the opinions expressed by the artist. To understand editorial cartoons it is important to understand their effectiveness as a counterweight to power. It is presumed readers approach satire with a broad minded foundation and healthy knowledge of objective facts of the subjects depicted.

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