Cartoonists and Street Artists Worldwide Target Trump and Musk
In response to the new US administration under Donald Trump and the political involvement of Elon Musk, cartoonists and street artists globally have created works critiquing the duo. Portuguese cartoonist Zez Vaz reimagined the iconic Tiananmen Square photo, replacing tanks with Tesla Cybertrucks. French artist James Colomina installed a red arm sculpture on a Tesla charger in Barcelona, mimicking Musk's controversial salute. Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Ann Telnaes resigned from the Washington Post after a cartoon about big tech's alignment with Trump was rejected. Italian street artist Evyrein created a mural in Padua showing Musk removing a mask to reveal Hitler's face, while students from the Cambiare rotta collective hung an effigy of Musk upside down in Piazzale Loreto, Milan. Italian artist Tvboy depicted Trump and Musk attempting to graffiti swastikas. These works highlight parallels between current US politics and historical fascism.
Key facts
- Zez Vaz's cartoon references the 1989 Tiananmen Square photo, replacing tanks with Tesla Cybertrucks.
- James Colomina installed 'Elon's arm' on a Tesla charger in Barcelona on February 4.
- Ann Telnaes resigned from the Washington Post after her cartoon was rejected.
- Evyrein's mural in Padua shows Musk removing a mask to reveal Hitler.
- Cambiare rotta collective hung an effigy of Musk in Piazzale Loreto, Milan.
- Tvboy's work shows Trump and Musk attempting to graffiti swastikas.
- Tesla's European sales have dropped due to Musk's political actions.
- The works draw comparisons between Trump/Musk and 20th-century dictatorships.
Entities
Artists
- Zez Vaz
- James Colomina
- Ann Telnaes
- Evyrein
- Tvboy
- Gary Markstein
- Jeff Widener
Institutions
- Associated Press
- Washington Post
- Tesla
- AfD
- Cambiare rotta
- Artribune
Locations
- Barcelona
- Spain
- Padua
- Italy
- Piazzale Loreto
- Milan
- Peking
- China
- Germany