A political cartoonist for the Buffalo News sparked outrage by seemingly mocking victims of the severe flash floods in Texas on Monday through a cartoon depicting a drowning Trump supporter.
The cartoon’s caption read, “Historic flash floods have struck Southern Texas, with at least 82 deaths and dozens more missing.”
The image portrayed a man wearing a red MAGA hat, submerged in floodwaters in Kerr County, Texas, holding a “HELP” sign.
A speech bubble from the man stated, “Gov’t is the problem not the solution.”
At the top of the cartoon, the words “Swept Away…” appeared.
Buffalo News editorial cartoonist Adam Zyglis appeared to clarify that the phrase referred to Trump supporters’ calls for smaller government being “swept away” after the flood, in a Monday Instagram post.
“Tomorrow’s lines… that argument’s gone in a flash,” Zyglis wrote alongside the cartoon, also including tags like “noaa,” “national weather service,” “doge,” “cuts,” and “maga.”
The Buffalo News cartoon showed a Trump supporter drowning in Texas floodwaters.
Several liberal media figures and Democratic Party members have faced criticism for politicizing the flash floods and blaming President Trump and DOGE for the disaster, despite reports that the National Weather Service office in the region had extra staff on duty during the flooding.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson condemned these remarks on Monday, highlighting that experts have repeatedly disproven such claims.
“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,” she told Fox News Digital.
Buffalo News editorial cartoonist Adam Zyglis’ drawing was labeled “shameful.”
“False claims about the NWS have been repeatedly disproven by meteorologists, experts, and public reports. The NWS fulfilled their duty, issuing a flood watch over 12 hours before the disaster. The Trump Administration appreciates the first responders who acted quickly to save hundreds of lives during this catastrophe and remains committed to supporting Texas in its recovery efforts.”
Erie County Republican Committee Chairman Michael Kracker tweeted, “@TheBuffaloNews ran a cartoon mocking Texas families who lost loved ones in a tragedy, simply because they may have voted Republican. Twisted, vile, and shameful. They owe those families an apology and should remove this offensive cartoon immediately.”
Libs of TikTok also condemned the cartoon, writing, “DISGRACE: @TheBuffaloNews publishes a VILE cartoon by artist Adam Zyglis that appears to mock Texas families affected by the floods because they voted for Trump.”
Author Oli London reported, “A cartoonist for The Buffalo News has sparked outrage with a cartoon showing a drowning Texas flood victim wearing a MAGA hat. Pulitzer Prize-winning artist Adam Zyglis created the cartoon for the New York news outlet’s website, featuring the caption ‘Swept Away…’”
Fox News Digital contacted Zyglis and The Buffalo News for comment but did not receive a response before publication.
