Germany just threw its biggest party of the year, and Trump was the main attraction in ways the White House won’t be happy about

Germany’s annual Rose Monday carnival, known for its sharp political satire, took direct aim at President Trump on February 16, 2026. The timing was notable: the parades fell on Presidents Day in the United States. Millions of people filled the streets of Cologne, Mainz, and Düsseldorf for the five-mile parade routes.

Rose Monday, or Rosenmontag, is one of Germany’s most important cultural traditions, dating back to 1823. The whole purpose of the event is to mock political figures and comment on world events through giant satirical floats. This year, Trump was clearly the main target.

According to The Daily Beast, float designers went especially hard on Trump’s relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. One float showed both leaders with their mouths open, appearing to eat an animal labeled “Europa.” Another image showed Trump on his knees, licking Putin’s shoes; a pointed visual from a major U.S. ally.

The German carnival didn’t spare Trump from some of its most graphic imagery

Some floats pushed into more shocking territory. One depicted Trump punching a black-eyed Jesus figure, with “ICE” on Trump’s sleeve and “Love & humanity” written on Jesus’s clothing. Another float showed Trump appearing to sexually assault the Statue of Liberty, whose mouth was covered in red tape reading “MAGA.”

That float also showed Trump without pants and with a “Stormy” tattoo on his thigh; a direct reference to his felony conviction over hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Trump has faced ongoing scrutiny over his legal and political controversies, making him the most recognizable face at the parade.

The Germans also took aim at world leaders they see as too close to Trump. One float showed kiss marks on Trump’s bare bottom, attributed to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the European Union, and FIFA. No one was spared.

Back in the United States on the same day, former Republican President George W. Bush also appeared to take quiet shots at the current administration. Trump has also been in the news for threatening to block a new bridge opening; just one example of the administration’s recent controversies. In a Presidents Day essay, Bush focused on George Washington’s character, writing that Washington “set a standard for all presidents to live up to.”

Bush wrote that Washington “modeled what it means to put the good of the nation over self-interest and selfish ambition.” He praised Washington for choosing not to remain “all-powerful,” saying Washington carried himself with “dignity and self-restraint, honoring the office without allowing it to become invested with near-mythical powers.” The essay was widely seen as a subtle but clear critique of Trump.