Four years of Trump: a retrospective
Over the last four years I’ve created several editorial illustrations about Donald Trump. In my work I manipulate physical objects and photograph them to create simple and hopefully impactful images.
These illustrations have been a way to add commentary, capture a moment, and in some cases accompany news articles. As Trump’s presidency comes to an end, I thought I’d do a retrospective of sorts — looking back at the artwork in the order it was created.
2016 election: “Political views”
This was the first political piece I’ve made. In 2015 candidates were emerging, debates were happening, and it started to become clear that the United States’ two-party system has created two polar opposite political sides with no in between.
November 2016: “Trump’s transition”
When Trump won the 2016 election, it felt like a fever dream. Inspired by the 3D glasses, I created this animation to personify these polar opposites.
January 2017: “Presidential Portrait 45”
After Trump’s inauguration, the reality began to sink in. One day I was sitting with boxes of junk and art supplies wondering what I should make. I came across this triangular yellow block and immediately saw Trump’s hairline. Grabbing other materials I had laying around I rearranged objects until his likeness emerged, creating a chaotic presidential portrait.
August 2017: ”Racists aren’t born, they’re made”
When the white supremacist rally happened in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017 I created this image. It was a series of instructions to create a KKK member from a blank sheet of paper. The concept was that racism isn’t innate, but learned.
August 2018: “Tower of gold”
Trump demanded $5 billion for his proposed U.S.-Mexico border wall. The demand would eventually cause the longest U.S. government shutdown in history. I replicated Trump’s Vegas hotel with a gold spray-painted Jenga set, rearranging it into a border wall.
“Borderline”
This was a spontaneous addition to the previous piece I made with extra wire. It carries a slightly different meaning, personifying the man behind the madness.
April 2020: “Virus”
Now I know what you’re thinking, “Nick, you just skipped two years.” I can tell you it certainly wasn’t for a lack of stories. There was a long period of time I just didn’t make work. Perhaps a combination of losing interest, not having the time, and feeling like the work didn’t matter.
But in April of 2020 I finally felt compelled to create again. Earth Day, the coronavirus, and Trump’s slow and lack of action all culminated to inspire this piece which combined a globe with spray-painted clay in his likeness.
This image was published in The Atlantic with an article titled “The Rest of the World Is Laughing at Trump.”
April 2020: “Disinfect”
When Trump suggested that scientists test disinfectants to be injected inside the human body to fight the coronavirus it was too preposterous not to illustrate. I went under my sink and dug out some cleaning supplies to see if I’d be inspired. When I came across a Windex bottle I immediately saw Trump’s mouth in the silhouette.
May 2020: “Fore!”
On Memorial Day weekend deaths in the U.S. reached 100,000 from the coronavirus. Trump went golfing.
May 2020: “MAGA”
Commenting on the BLM protests after George Floyd’s murder Trump proclaimed, “MAGA loves the black people.” A quote that felt like a joke considering the rise of hatred, xenophobia, and racism fueled by Trump and his administration.
August 2020: “U.S. Fail”
Trump attacked the USPS with the intentions of dismantling it to prevent voting by mail. Senator Bernie Sanders on the Tonight Show said he feared it was a setup for Trump to cry false election should the results not be in Trump’s favor. He was right.
November 2020: “Pacify”
When mail-in votes were being counted and Trump’s defeat became more and more clear, Trump took to Twitter with many all-caps messages in the tone of a toddler having a temper tantrum.
December 2020: “Cracked”
I’ve had the idea of a Trump nutcracker for years and it was finally now or never. I’m glad I saved it for 2020 because I think it’s a perfect symbol of Trump’s gluttony and defeat, surrounded by his nuts.
January 2021: “Garage sale”
In my final piece we don’t see Trump at all, but a simple garage sale sign. It’s a final farewell to the residents of the White House as we all clean out our closets, reset our expectations of the Commander in Chief, and start anew.
Looking forward
While this body of work has been a big part of my life the last four years, it’s important not to overinflate the importance of political art. It will never take the place of action. Action like we’ve seen from Stacey Abrams whose efforts boosted progressive turnout in Georgia — impacting the 2020 presidential election. At the end of the day, I’m just a guy creating images in my home. I’m not swaying minds or changing hearts. I’m simply adding commentary and even more caricature to a man who’s already cartoonishly villainous. It feels good to be closing this chapter of my work. I look forward to one man not occupying so much of our news and minds.
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