A political cartoon published by the Buffalo News has sparked widespread outrage for appearing to mock victims of the recent catastrophic flash floods in Texas, particularly those who support President Donald Trump. Fox News reports, the cartoon, created by editorial cartoonist Adam Zyglis, depicts a man in a red MAGA hat submerged in floodwaters in Kerr County, Texas, holding a “HELP” sign. The character is shown saying, “Gov’t is the problem not the solution,” while the caption at the top reads, “Swept Away…”
The cartoon was released shortly after historic floods struck Southern Texas, resulting in at least 82 known deaths and dozens more missing at the time. Zyglis later explained on Instagram that the “Swept Away” caption referred to the idea that arguments for smaller government are “swept away” in the face of such disasters. He wrote, “Tomorrow’s lines… that argument’s gone in a flash,” and tagged terms like “noaa,” “national weather service,” “doge,” “cuts,” and “maga” in his post.
The cartoon drew immediate backlash on social media and from political figures. Erie County Republican Committee Chairman Michael Kracker criticized the cartoon, stating that it mocked Texas families who lost loved ones simply because they may have voted Republican, calling it “twisted, vile, and shameful.” The account Libs of TikTok also condemned the cartoon, while author Oli London described the depiction as one that sparked outrage for showing a drowning Texas flood victim in a MAGA hat.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson also responded, criticizing what she described as the left’s tendency to politicize tragedies. She noted that accusations against the National Weather Service (NWS) and the Trump administration had been repeatedly debunked by experts, emphasizing that the NWS had issued a flood watch more than 12 hours in advance and that first responders had saved hundreds of lives.
“It’s shameful and disgusting that in the wake of tragedy, the left’s first instinct is to lie and politicize a disaster to target their political opponents,” Jackson reportedly told Fox News Digital. “False claims about the NWS have been repeatedly debunked by meteorologists, experts, and other public reporting. The NWS did their job, even issuing a flood watch more than 12 hours in advance. The Trump Administration is grateful to the first responders who sprang into action to save hundreds lives during this catastrophe, and will continue to help the great state of Texas in their recovery efforts.”