Trump as a “Pirate”: Cartoon Sparks Debate Over U.S. Military Strike in Venezuela
On January 3, 2026, engineer and social commentator Mohamed Elhassi (@mohamedelhassi) from the National Commercial Bank posted a satirical cartoon on X highlighting former U.S. President Donald Trump as a pirate, riding atop an oil barrel labeled with the Venezuelan flag. This imagery immediately resonated as political commentary on the U.S. military operation earlier that day in Caracas, Venezuela, where President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores were reportedly captured.
— مُحَمُد الُحَاسّيّ 🎗️ (@mohamedelhassi) January 3, 2026
The cartoon criticizes the strike as resource-driven imperialism rather than purely law enforcement or anti-narcotics action. By portraying Trump wielding a sword and smiling on an oil barrel, the artist communicates global concerns of U.S. interventionism, especially in regions rich in oil reserves.
While Trump supporters in the U.S. and Venezuelan exiles in Miami viewed the operation as a decisive move against authoritarianism, critics—including officials from Russia, China, Iran, France, and the EU—condemned the act as illegal and destabilizing. Analysts warn that such aggressive tactics may trigger long-term geopolitical instability, impacting Latin American markets and global diplomacy.
Despite polarizing opinions, a key takeaway emerges: satire remains a powerful tool to question global policy. Moving forward, the international community must balance security concerns with respect for sovereignty, aiming for solutions that reduce conflict while safeguarding human and economic rights. This event underscores the urgent need for transparent, lawful, and globally coordinated interventions rather than unilateral military actions.
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