Benjamin Franklin

Tuesday January 21, 2025

The inauguration of Donald Trump in the Capitol Rotunda, a site of past chaos, highlights the deepening divides and fears surrounding his administration while Biden's preemptive pardons attempt to shield his adversaries from potential retribution against a backdrop of oligarchic influence.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday January 21, 2025

From Insurrection to Inauguration: The Irony of Power in the Capitol’s Rotunda

January 20, 2017

The inauguration of Donald Trump, held in the iconic Capitol Rotunda, stands as a striking tableau of irony—a space that once echoed with the discord of insurrection now transformed into a setting for a highly anticipated ceremony amid the chill of January. On a day when temperatures plummeted to a frigid -4 degrees Celsius, the venue shift from the Capitol steps to the indoor Rotunda was necessitated by the harsh weather conditions. Yet, the warmth of the sun outside belied the somber historical weight of the place, creating an unsettling juxtaposition between the celebration of power and the shadows of chaos that once engulfed this very hall.

This grand, domed chamber, revered for its architectural splendour and historical significance, was the scene of mayhem just four years prior, when a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in a futile attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Now, it serves as the backdrop for a gathering of the nation’s elite—former presidents, tech CEOs, and Silicon Valley oligarchs—who occupy the front rows, while many governors and Republican officials, along with Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly, find themselves relegated to overflow rooms, watching from a distance.

News: Rotunda Ransacked by Pro-Trump Mob on Jan. 6 Will Be His Inauguration Backdrop

As Canada faces the challenges posed by Trump's second presidency, the nation must assert its sovereignty and strategically address economic, immigration, and military concerns to safeguard its future.

January 4, 2025

The contrast could not be starker: the political elite bask in the warmth of their privilege within the Rotunda, while everyday supporters, eager to witness the event in person, shuffle to Capital One Arena, hoping to catch a glimpse of the proceedings on screens. This spectacle raises questions about accessibility and representation in a democracy that prides itself on inclusivity.

As Trump takes the reins of power once again, there looms a palpable sense of fear among those who find themselves in his crosshairs. His administration has signalled a willingness to settle scores with perceived adversaries—judges, prosecutors, and officials who stood against him. The promise of “retribution” echoes ominously, sending ripples of anxiety through the ranks of those who once believed they could serve the public without fear of vindictive backlash. The Department of Justice, once seen as a bastion of impartiality, now risks becoming a political weapon wielded against those who dare to challenge the status quo.

In an effort to preemptively counter this atmosphere of fear, President Biden issued a series of pardons on his final day in office, targeting those who stood against the tide of insurrection. General Milley, Dr. Fauci, and members of the January 6 committee were granted clemency, a move designed to protect them from potential political prosecutions. Biden’s actions are a testament to the gravity of the situation, highlighting the unprecedented nature of a president using clemency to shield individuals from the vindictiveness of a successor.

News: Some Jan. 6 rioters are expected to be in Washington for the inauguration

Yet, the very necessity of such pardons underscores the precarious state of American democracy. They reflect a reality where public servants, who have dedicated their careers to upholding the rule of law, now require protection from the very forces they sought to counter. Comments from the public reveal a deep unease with the trajectory of the country, as many express concern that the rise of authoritarianism is not just a fear but a lived reality.

In this charged atmosphere, the irony of Trump’s inauguration venue—once a site of insurrection, now a gathering place for the political elite—serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of democratic norms. As the nation watches from afar, the question remains: can the pillars of democracy withstand the pressures of retribution and fear, or will the legacy of this day serve as a harbinger of further division and discord? The answers lie not just in the actions of the incoming administration but in the collective resolve of the American people to uphold the values of transparency, accountability, and justice in the face of adversity.

So, there it went, the inauguration of Donald Trump—a day that felt particularly significant, especially given the unusual context of a president returning after losing an election. It was a historic moment, and I found myself glued to my screens as the events unfolded.

The first headline that caught my attention was Biden’s decision to use his executive clemency power to protect individuals targeted by Trump, who has made no secret of his intentions for “retribution.” Some people were thankful for the pardons, while others felt uneasy, worried that accepting them might imply guilt. Just moments before the inauguration, Biden even pardoned much of his family as a precaution.

Then there was the leak about Trump’s speech, which thankfully wouldn’t focus much on tariffs. The mere mention of Canada in such high level speeches is usually an exciting thing, “wow, they mentioned maple syrup!” This go-around held breath it whether he’d say Canada. Fortunately, we escaped any mention this time around. This time around. Instead, Trump reserved his ire for Panama, threatening to take control of the Panama Canal—a curious and unexpected move.

The choice of venue for the inauguration was striking. Moving the event indoors to the Capitol Rotunda—just four years after it was stormed by Trump supporters—added a layer of irony. This beautiful space was once the backdrop for chaos, and now it was filled with wealthy figures, including tech billionaires, sitting front and centre, while many supporters had to watch from overflow rooms or the Capital One Arena. It really highlighted the disconnect between the political elite and everyday citizens.

As I watched Trump speak, I felt a mix of disbelief and discomfort. His antics—signing decrees and throwing sharpie markers to a cheering crowd—felt more like a show than a serious political event. There was little mention of pressing issues like rising food prices or the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which was disappointing. So much for ending the war on day one.

Having visited the Rotunda myself, I can say it’s an impressive place, but it can also feel a bit gaudy. The large painting of the Declaration of Independence by John Trumbull hung overhead, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin looking askance as everything unfolded, reminding us of long ago U.S. history, and what their painted eyes witnessed 4 years ago. As former presidents like Clinton, Bush Jr., and Obama took their seats, I noticed the contrast between their dignity and Trump’s often outrageous behaviour. It was a grown-up moment, especially since many who have been insulted by Trump chose to attend, showing a level of respect that he often lacks.

Before Trump even began his speech, I started sketching a cartoon, focusing on the past presidents watching the event unfold. It was a reminder that the dignity of the institution might still help keep Trump in check.

This inauguration, held in a space once marred by chaos, serves as a strong symbol of our current political climate. As elites gather amid fears of retribution and with Biden’s pardons reflecting the fragile state of our democracy, it’s crucial to consider the growing influence of wealthy individuals in politics. It’s going to be a long difficult four years.

Enjoy the January 21, 2025 making-of animated editorial cartoon below PLUS a bonus YouTube video I made of Inaugural Speech highlights from history. Please subscribe to my Substack newsletter, if you haven’t already. Posts come out every Friday or Saturday as I summarize the week that was in my editorial cartoons. What you’re reading now is regarded as a “note”, which is used to help compose my weekly posts and showcase the animated versions of my daily editorial cartoons.

January 21st 2025 editorial cartoon: https://youtu.be/1wdGi-ZrdUk

Key Moments from Inaugural Speeches of the Past: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/8MHSlz8ove4

– The Graeme Gallery

Read on Substack

Tuesday September 29, 2020

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday September 29, 2020

Long-Concealed Records Show Trump’s Chronic Losses and Years of Tax Avoidance

Donald J. Trump paid $750 in federal income taxes the year he won the presidency. In his first year in the White House, he paid another $750.

October 4, 2016

He had paid no income taxes at all in 10 of the previous 15 years — largely because he reported losing much more money than he made.

As the president wages a re-election campaign that polls say he is in danger of losing, his finances are under stress, beset by losses and hundreds of millions of dollars in debt coming due that he has personally guaranteed. Also hanging over him is a decade-long audit battle with the Internal Revenue Service over the legitimacy of a $72.9 million tax refund that he claimed, and received, after declaring huge losses. An adverse ruling could cost him more than $100 million.

March 26, 2019

The tax returns that Mr. Trump has long fought to keep private tell a story fundamentally different from the one he has sold to the American public. His reports to the I.R.S. portray a businessman who takes in hundreds of millions of dollars a year yet racks up chronic losses that he aggressively employs to avoid paying taxes. Now, with his financial challenges mounting, the records show that he depends more and more on making money from businesses that put him in potential and often direct conflict of interest with his job as president.

June 2, 2020

The New York Times has obtained tax-return data extending over more than two decades for Mr. Trump and the hundreds of companies that make up his business organization, including detailed information from his first two years in office. It does not include his personal returns for 2018 or 2019.

The COVID-19 Pandemic

The returns are some of the most sought-after, and speculated-about, records in recent memory. In Mr. Trump’s nearly four years in office — and across his endlessly hyped decades in the public eye — journalists, prosecutors, opposition politicians and conspiracists have, with limited success, sought to excavate the enigmas of his finances. By their very nature, the filings will leave many questions unanswered, many questioners unfulfilled. They comprise information that Mr. Trump has disclosed to the I.R.S., not the findings of an independent financial examination. They report that Mr. Trump owns hundreds of millions of dollars in valuable assets, but they do not reveal his true wealth. Nor do they reveal any previously unreported connections to Russia. (Continued: New York Times) 

 

May 9, 2008

I’m such a nerd. It seems I’m the only one in the editorial department who can compare the rowdy Flambrarians enraged over a recent hike in property taxes to a famous cartoon drawn in the lead up to the American Revolution:

Nobody seemed to know about the cartoon I was talking about, even though I’ve seen it replicated all over the place, in t-shirts, wood carvings and tacky tapestries – the kind you see being hawked at U.S. state fairs. A really great HBO miniseries on the life of John Adams just wrapped up opened each segment with panning closeups of this cartoon accompanied by stirring drumbeat. The above cartoon is based on one which appeared in Ben Franklin’s newspaper The Pennsylvania Gazette on May 9, 1754, according to Early America.com. It appeared as part of an editorial by Franklin commenting on ‘the present disunited state of the British Colonies.’

The woodcut drawing entitled ‘Join or Die’ pictures a divided snake in eight pieces representing as many colonial governments. The drawing was based on the popular superstition that a snake that had been cut in two would come to life if the pieces were joined before sunset. The drawing immediately caught the public’s fancy and was reproduced in other newspapers.

In my strange view of the world it made for a natural application to the situation in Flamborough. It follows a gathering of a thousand or so angry citizens who packed a hockey arena to vent about the City’s decision to take the revenues of a Flamborough casino. It didn’t run. It appears as though the Join or Die part might only make matters worse. If people around this aren’t going to know what I’m talking about then it’s hardly going to prevent the Flam-bumpkis from wondering out loud.

This classic byt Kate Beaton in Hark a Vagrant! put the occasional dumbing down challenges cartoonists have deal with their editors. Bonus, it’s the same cartoon!