Following criticism from the Republican presidential candidate, an Iowa newspaper has issued an apology for a political cartoon that depicted MAGA supporters directing racial slurs at Vivek Ramaswamy. The Quad-City Times acknowledged the cartoon as "inexcusable" and "racist," stating it was intended to criticize racist rhetoric but ultimately employed insensitive language towards the Indian American community.

Executive editor Tom Martin explained the paper's decision to remove the cartoon from its website and sever ties with the artist. The cartoon, published on Wednesday, portrayed Ramaswamy at a rally being met with racial slurs from three white men in the crowd, misidentifying his religion and referencing harmful stereotypes. Martin emphasized the paper's commitment to diverse opinions but condemned the divisive and disparaging nature of the cartoon.

Ramaswamy, who identifies as a Hindu, criticized the cartoon on Twitter for perpetuating a stereotype of conservative voters as racists. He noted that he hadn’t encountered such bigotry from conservatives but had observed it from the left. While upholding the paper's right to publish, he condemned the cartoon's content. Other social media users echoed his sentiment, criticizing the cartoon as representative of how some on the left view individuals like Ramaswamy.