Controversial Cover: New York Magazine’s Health Issue Sparks Debate

Donald Trump concluded an enthusiastic Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, while Democrats face the extraordinary possibility of President Joe Biden stepping aside for a new presidential nominee before their own convention.

New York Magazine Sparks Controversy

Amidst the political turmoil, New York magazine published its latest Health issue on Thursday, featuring a photoshopped cover image of Trump and Biden that has sparked significant backlash. The cover, illustrated by Martin Schoeller, depicts the two political rivals in their underwear, standing on medical scales, suggesting a medical exam. The source photographs were taken by Seth Wenig (Trump) and Mandel Ngan (Biden).

 

Issue Highlights

According to the issue’s description, the Health issue features an interview with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer on her sudden entrance into presidential politics. Additional articles include Jonathan Chait’s analysis on the potential consequences for Democrats if they stick with Biden, and Mark Jacobson’s reflection on aging amidst ongoing questions about Biden’s health. Other features spotlight mammogram inaccuracies, advancements in immunotherapy research for cancer treatment, and the death rituals of the wealthy.

 

Public Outrage

The magazine cover, revealed on social media on Wednesday, has drawn widespread criticism for being improper and immoral. One user commented, “What a disgusting decision to make this a cover. We can now point to the media’s contribution to making the US a joke to the world.”

 

Magazine’s Response

In response to the backlash, the magazine defended the cover as a commentary on the candidates’ ages and health—topics of increasing public interest. New York’s executive editor, Genevieve Smith, explained in a press release, “We had already been thinking about how to address the fact that this health issue would drop in the middle of the presidential campaign, when the presidential debate put the health and age of the candidates in the center of the national conversation.”

The magazine also issued a special package analyzing the “existential crisis Democrats are facing as the nation questions President Biden’s fitness for office.” A New York magazine spokesperson added, “This cover is part of the magazine’s longstanding tradition of political cartoons. We hope our readers found it funny, and are okay that some didn’t.”