Politico yanks antisemitic cartoon of blood-covered Trump and Netanyahu
WASHINGTON — Politico removed a controversial cartoon depicting President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after critics accused the illustration of using antisemitic imagery.
The cartoon, published Friday by the outlet, which is owned by the German media group Axel Springer, showed Trump and Netanyahu seated on a rickety ship alongside several prominent Republican officials. The figures were portrayed wearing blood-stained Jewish prayer shawls and yarmulkes.
A sign on the boat read “Amalek,” the Hebrew word for enemy, and the vessel appeared to be heading toward a cliff in the direction of Iran. The cartoon, titled “Ship of Neocons,” was included in Politico’s weekly gallery featuring work from cartoonists across the country and across the political spectrum. The image was removed Saturday after accusations of antisemitism surfaced following reporting by the Washington Free Beacon.
In a statement, Politico said the cartoon did not meet the publication’s standards.
“We removed a cartoon by independent cartoonist Sean Delonas from this week’s gallery after weighing comments from readers that it did not meet our standards,” the outlet said.
Politico added that political cartoons often contain strong imagery and arguments but said depictions that rely on ethnic stereotypes or historically hateful tropes fall outside acceptable boundaries.
The illustration reimagined the well-known “Ship of Fools” painting created between 1490 and 1500 by Hieronymus Bosch, which portrayed the sin of gluttony. In the cartoon version, Netanyahu sits at the head of the table where a monk appears in the original work.
Critics said the drawing used exaggerated features and Jewish symbols in ways that echoed antisemitic stereotypes. The image also portrayed Netanyahu at a blood-stained table while Trump was shown playing a lute and wearing a tallit, or Jewish prayer shawl. Bags of money appeared above the figures.
The cartoon also depicted Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina wearing a blood-stained yarmulke and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas draped in a bloodied prayer shawl. Neither lawmaker is Jewish.
In another part of the illustration, Graham is shown pouring blood over an elephant representing the Republican Party. Vice President JD Vance is shown looking toward the edge of the cliff where the ship appears to be heading. A blood-covered figure labeled Secretary of War is also shown staring ahead.
The ship passes two shirtless figures wearing MAGA hats who appear to be begging for food scraps. Above the vessel is a banner reading “Mission Accomplished.”
Critics argued the cartoon relied on antisemitic imagery by exaggerating Netanyahu’s nose and by using Jewish symbols to suggest Jewish influence behind the conflict with Iran.
Delonas rejected those accusations, saying exaggerated features are common in political cartoons and defending the imagery used in the drawing.
“All the figures have exaggerated features — it’s a cartoon,” he said. “I drew more exaggerated noses on Senator Ted Cruz and the GOP elephants in the cartoon than on Bibi. Is that anti-Semitic as well?”
He also said the reference to “Amalek” came from a recent remark by Netanyahu in which the Israeli leader said, “Remember what Amalek did to you. We remember, and we act.”
Delonas previously worked as a cartoonist for the New York Post’s Page Six from 1990 to 2013 and now has his work syndicated through Cagle Cartoons.
In a blog post responding to the backlash, Delonas said critics were targeting him because of his anti-war views.
“The neocons have been criticizing me and fellow journalists lately for our anti-war stance,” he wrote. “Instead of debating the issue, which in this case is a cartoon about the war with Iran that Israel instigated, they resort to name-calling against those they disagree with.”
The term “neocon” refers to neoconservative political ideology, which combines elements of traditional conservatism with support for individualism and limited free-market principles.
Politico did not respond to a request for additional comment.
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