Polish right‑wing media have made Donald Tusk the punchline in a series of jokes, ranging from satirical cartoons to mock conversations with EU officials, sparking laughter and controversy.
Satire in the Weekly “Sieci”
The cover of ‘Sieci’ bore the headline “TAK ZABIJALEWICA,” riffing on the outrage over the murder of American activist Charlie Kirk and framing the story as a fight against left‑ist terrorism. Inside, a cartoon shows newlyweds Krzysztof Bosak and Sławomir Mentzen, while satire author Krzysztof Feusette delivers a sketched dialogue in which Tusk is called by German MEP Manfred Weber on a phone call full of invented political banter.
Transgender Cartoon in “Do Rzeczy”
A trans‑phobic illustration depicts an obese trans woman wearing rainbow‑striped clothing, holding a fork and a knife. The caption reads, “Today, as part of health education, we will learn how to change her evil with kitchen accessories,” igniting outrage over the hateful message.
Jokes in “Gazeta Polska”
The newspaper turned memes into political satire, with images of German Chancellor Friedrich Merkel in an ironic pose beside President Nawrocki, and a photo of a ruined house in Wyrzyce with Tusk declaring “We consider handing the investigation over to the Russian side.” Other memes showed Nawrocki interrogating Merkel about stolen artworks, feeding into a right‑wing narrative of Polish elites cheating the West.
The “Bad Donald” Meme
In a harsh editorial remark, deputy chief editor Piotr Lisiewicz lambasted Tusk as a “naughty boy at fault” and said he would receive a life‑sentence for his “bad” conduct. The phrase “Naughty Donald” has become a recurring punchline in right‑wing commentary, with the name of Ursula von der Leyen used later in parody.
Time‑Urgent Tusk Joke
A joke in the “Do Rzeczy” column asked, “Why does Tusk push for trains that run 350 km/h?” with the reply, “So the Central Railway can bind to Germany in under two hours.” The humor relies on Tusk’s role in national rail policy and is presented as a joke about speed and connectivity.
