From banknotes to the limited-edition new US passport design, Donald Trump has been determined to stamp his visage on the celebrations for the United States’ 250th anniversary. All the same, I’m not sure if he’ll appreciate The Economist’s latest cover design.
The illustration on the front of the international news magazine’s America at 250 edition marks the anniversary of US independence with a giant birthday cake. But take a closer look at the decorations.
Illustrating a cover story on US economic history headlined “America is anxious, and awesomely powerful”, the minimalist cover of this week’s edition of The Economist features a cake adorned with patriotic stars and stripes. However, instead of candles, it’s topped with matches, making it feel more like a bomb or a tinderbox ready to explode.
One of the matches is alight, and a closer look reveals the charred head to feature the profile of the current US president, suggestive of a dangerous and inflammatory contribution to US history.
The design has provoked some debate, with comments variously describing it in terms ranging from “ingenious” to “predictable”. It reminds me a little of the Let me know what you think in the comments.
In the meantime, Trump himself has been trolling Hollywood actors with the latest AI-generated video posted on his own official Instagram account.
