DISCLAIMER: This article was first published on September 19, 2025
The cartoon on next week’s cover of The New Yorker conveys several truths about President Donald Trump: his love of television, his need for control, and his ability to destroy and crush his enemies at the touch of a (metaphorical) button.
The cover of the September 29 issue, drawn by Barry Blitt, is titled “Remote Control.” In Trump’s familiar short-fingered hand, the remote features the usual remote buttons like “power,” “mute,” and “pause,” but as the eye moves down, the buttons become more Trump-specific: “Muzzle,” “Silence,” “Shun,” “Banish,” “Oust,” “Axe,” “Dismiss,” and “Torment,” along with a red button that says “Deport.”
Trump’s thing is over an obscured button that may or may not say “Kill.”:
An early look at next week’s cover of The New Yorker: “Remote Control,” by Barry Blitt: https://t.co/hOWhs4MG34 pic.twitter.com/uPYXtfUWEr
— The New Yorker (@NewYorker) September 18, 2025
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The New Yorker’s “Cover Story” about the image includes something of an explanation.
“For the cover of the September 29, 2025, issue, the cartoonist Barry Blitt attempted to capture, in one image, Donald Trump’s unprecedented series of attacks on the media, destruction of federal programs, and abuses of executive power that have ushered in a new era of political vengeance,” the magazine said.
“When voting for President,” Blitt said, “I, of course, want someone who will not only run the country but also help narrow down our media diet.”
David Remnick, the magazine’s longtime editor, unveiled the cover in an appearance earlier this week on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert:
THIS IS EPIC
🚨MAJOR BREAKING: Stephen Colbert just invited the editor of The New Yorker to unveil the next cover of the magazine – which depicts Trump’s tiny hand over the mute button on a remote control.
This is how we fight back!! FUCK censorship!
— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) September 19, 2025
There were quite a few strong reactions to the magazine cover:
For the tyrants and censors: Donald Trump and FFC Chairman (and Trump lackey) Brendan Carr: https://t.co/V0EiSUy3x3
— Drew M. Capuder (@DrewCapuder) September 19, 2025
People empowerment is just antidote for arbitrary presidential power. Democracy loses the legitimacy the moment it becomes tool of exploitation. In century year, @NewYorker cartoonist Barry Blitt captures tools of POWER!
— News Lab India (@NewsLabIndia) September 19, 2025
What a cover. The New Yorker’s September magazine cover. pic.twitter.com/DVFentJsuD
— Victor Shi (@Victorshi2020) September 18, 2025
Barry Blitt is indeed an absolute genius. His work is phenomenal and memorable. He and his good friend, Matt Wuerker, of Politico fame, hosted an all day cartooning event for us at the American Museum of Tort Law in Fall of 2018. Watching these men work was beyond inspiring.
— Joan Bowman 🇺🇦 (@joan22) September 19, 2025
Photo courtesy of an X screenshot.
