Hello, and welcome to the Cover Story Podcast. I’m your host, and today we’re talking about Barry Blitt’s May 26, 2025 cover for The New Yorker, titled “Soft Landing.” Blitt’s illustration captures President Donald J. Trump in mid-stride, grinning ear to ear as a gleaming jet from Qatar touches down behind him. The image skewers Trump’s unmistakable enthusiasm for any perk—he’s even boasted of accepting a “free, very expensive airplane.” That unexpected gift from a nation not usually counted among U.S. allies has stirred consternation on both sides of the aisle, underscoring the broader debate over personal gain and public office. For more New Yorker covers featuring air travel, check out Theodore G. Haupt’s “May 25, 1929,” Constantin Alajalov’s “March 1, 1941,” and Adrian Tomine’s “Around the World.” You can find Barry Blitt’s covers, cartoons, and more at the Condé Nast Store. Thanks for listening, and join us next time for another behind-the-scenes look at your favorite magazine covers.
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