The rich symbolism in "Retrumplican Golden Age"

Central Symbolism:

The golden elephant serves as the perfect metaphor for the Republican Party transformed - no longer the traditional GOP symbol, but something far more extravagant and unwieldy. Its octopus-like tentacles suggest an entity that has grown beyond its original form, reaching into every aspect of governance and society.

Religious and Political Fusion: The cross pendant on the elephant represents the intertwining of evangelical Christianity with Republican politics, while the Confederate flag saddle blanket signals the party's appeal to certain historical nostalgias and regional loyalties.

The Rider and His Gifts: Trump, depicted in his characteristic blue suit, waves what appears to be the Qatar 474 aircraft - a direct reference to his acceptance of foreign gifts that violated traditional U.S. diplomatic protocols. This detail speaks to Curtis's attention to specific controversies and norm-breaking behaviors.

Flying Pigs as Witnesses: The airborne pigs throughout the composition serve multiple symbolic functions - they represent the "impossible made possible" (when pigs fly), suggesting that previously unthinkable political scenarios have become reality. They also echo the series title's theme of delusion and fantasy.

Economic Symbolism: The scattered coins below reference both Trump's business background and the economic promises/concerns of his presidency. The mixture of gold and silver coins might represent the varied economic impacts on different segments of society.

The Snake: The serpent with hammer and sickle is particularly loaded symbolism - it could represent the perceived threat of socialism/communism that Trump campaigned against, or ironically, the influence of foreign powers (given the Russian investigation context).

Background Elements: The pastoral landscape contrasts sharply with the surreal foreground action, perhaps representing an idealized "simpler time" that political rhetoric often promises to restore.

Curtis masterfully uses this fantastical composition to comment on the transformation of American political norms, the blending of religious and political identity, and the surreal nature of contemporary political discourse. The "Golden Age" title is clearly ironic, suggesting that what glitters may not be gold, and what seems triumphant may actually be precarious - after all, the elephant-octopus hybrid doesn't look particularly stable as a mount.