In a striking resignation, Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Ann Telnaes has left the Washington Post after the paper blocked her satirical cartoon.
The artwork depicted several billionaires, including Jeff Bezos, kneeling before President-elect Donald Trump.
Telnaes, known for her sharp political commentary, revealed that this was the first instance of a cartoon being rejected due to its target.
The cartoon, published on Telnaes’ Substack blog, features caricatures of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Los Angeles Times Publisher Patrick Soon-Shiong, and Post owner Bezos.
Each figure holds a bag of money, with Mickey Mouse representing Disney’s ABC News, kneeling before a Trump-like figure.
David Shipley, editorial page editor of the Washington Post, stated that the cartoon was rejected to avoid thematic repetition, not because of bias. However, Telnaes disagreed, asserting that her editorial autonomy was compromised.
The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between media outlets and Trump. Reports suggest Bezos blocked a planned endorsement of Kamala Harris during the presidential campaign.
Corporate Power and Media Ethics Clash in the Spotlight of Trump’s Presidency
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times abstained from any endorsements, leading to the resignation of editorial board members.
The cartoon also reignited debates over Big Tech’s influence, as Bezos and Zuckerberg reportedly pledged $1 million each to Trump’s inaugural fund.
OpenAI’s Altman has been similarly linked to donations, raising questions about the cozy ties between corporate giants and political power.
Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized these connections, emphasizing that billionaires benefit from lower tax rates than teachers.
Her support of Telnaes’ cartoon underscores broader concerns about the intersection of wealth, power, and media independence.
Telnaes’ resignation adds to the internal upheaval at the Washington Post under new leadership, further spotlighting the challenges faced by modern journalism.
