A political cartoon published by The Buffalo News has triggered widespread outrage after it appeared to mock victims of the deadly flash floods in Southern Texas. The cartoon, created by editorial cartoonist Adam Zyglis, showed a man wearing a red MAGA hat sinking in floodwaters in Kerr County while holding a “HELP” sign. A speech bubble beside him reads, “Gov’t is the problem not the solution,” with the caption above the cartoon stating, “Swept Away…”
This depiction came just as Texas was reeling from catastrophic floods that have claimed at least 82 lives, with dozens more missing. The cartoon quickly circulated online and was criticized for politicizing a tragedy.
On his Instagram, Zyglis suggested the message was aimed at highlighting how calls for smaller government can collapse in the face of natural disasters. He captioned the cartoon with, “Tomorrow’s lines… that argument’s gone in a flash,” and added hashtags including #noaa, #maga, and #cuts.
Critics across social media condemned the cartoon, accusing Zyglis and The Buffalo News of mocking conservative Texans during a crisis. Erie County Republican Committee Chairman Michael Kracker described it as “twisted, vile, and shameful,” demanding an apology for the families affected.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson also responded, calling the cartoon and related liberal commentary “shameful.” She noted that the National Weather Service had issued alerts more than 12 hours before the flooding and commended first responders for saving lives. She said accusations of negligence were baseless and politically motivated.
Fox News Digital contacted both Zyglis and The Buffalo News for comment but received no response at the time of publication. The cartoon continues to spark debate over the role of media and satire during national tragedies.
