Editorial Cartoon In Newspaper Sparks Strong Debate
A political cartoon published by The Buffalo News has ignited widespread backlash after appearing to mock victims of the deadly Texas flash floods by portraying a drowning man wearing a MAGA hat. The cartoon, drawn by Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Adam Zyglis, depicted the man submerged in floodwaters holding a “HELP” sign while saying, “Gov’t is the problem not the solution.”
The image was accompanied by the caption “Swept Away...” and a subtext referencing the tragic floods that struck Kerr County, Texas, leaving at least 82 dead and dozens missing. Zyglis later shared the cartoon on Instagram, implying that the phrase referred to what he called the "swept away" nature of arguments for small government in the face of natural disaster. He added hashtags including “#maga,” “#cuts,” and “#doge.”
DISGRACE: @TheBuffaloNews runs a VILE cartoon by artist Adam Zyglis, appearing to mock Texas families affected by the floods because they voted for Trump pic.twitter.com/PJkodyXFsI
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) July 9, 2025
The backlash was immediate and fierce. Critics accused Zyglis and The Buffalo News of politicizing a deadly tragedy and dehumanizing victims based on presumed political affiliation.
Erie County Republican Committee Chairman Michael Kracker condemned the cartoon, stating, “@TheBuffaloNews ran a cartoon mocking Texas families who lost loved ones in a tragedy, just because they might’ve voted Republican. Twisted, vile, and shameful.” Others echoed the sentiment across social media, with “Libs of TikTok” calling the cartoon a “DISGRACE” and demanding it be retracted.
The criticism extended beyond social media. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson called the cartoon and other left-leaning commentary surrounding the flood “shameful and disgusting,” noting that the National Weather Service (NWS) had issued flood warnings well in advance and had increased staffing in the region. Jackson added, “False claims about the NWS have been repeatedly debunked by meteorologists, experts, and other public reporting.”
Cartoonist working for The Buffalo News sparks outrage for his cartoon depicting drowning Texas flood victim wearing a MAGA hat.
Pulitzer-Prize winning cartoonist Adam Zygis drew the cartoon for the New York news outlets website with the words ‘Swept Away…’ pic.twitter.com/SlSwzMilFL
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) July 9, 2025
Democratic commentators had previously attempted to link the disaster to budget cuts and climate policies under President Donald Trump, despite no evidence of direct federal failure. The White House emphasized ongoing federal support for Texas and praised the rapid response from emergency personnel.
As of publication, neither Zyglis nor The Buffalo News responded to media inquiries regarding the controversy. The cartoon remains posted on Zyglis’ social media account.