The New Democratic Party Donkey Logo
The U.S. Democratic Party has unveiled a new logo. While this is not a complete rebranding, the party has updated its social media profile pictures. Since 2010, the Democratic Party has used a bold “D” inside a circle as its emblem, which remains in place. However, the newly updated social media profile image now features the party’s symbolic animal, the donkey. The background is Democratic blue, and the donkey’s tail and face are depicted in a simplified manner.
The reaction on social media platform X has been intense. Some users commented, “It looks like the stars have fallen, just like the Republican elephant,” while others pointed out, “The donkey is facing right instead of left.” One particularly sharp critique stated, “The donkey looks like it got hit by the GOP and is spitting out money like a piñata.”
The Democratic Party’s donkey symbol dates back to the 1828 presidential campaign of Andrew Jackson. At the time, Jackson’s opponents mocked him by calling him a “jackass,” which is another term for a donkey. Rather than rejecting the insult, Jackson embraced it and even included a donkey in his campaign posters. He ultimately won the election. Later, political cartoonist Thomas Nast reinforced the association between the Democratic Party and the donkey, further popularizing the symbol.
Similarly, the Republican Party’s elephant was not originally an official symbol. It first appeared in a political cartoon published on November 7, 1874, by Thomas Nast. The cartoon depicted the Republican Party as an elephant in a state of confusion, influenced by Democratic-leaning newspapers criticizing President Ulysses S. Grant’s potential bid for a third term. Over time, Republican supporters highlighted the elephant’s strength, dignity, and resilience, solidifying it as the party’s official emblem.
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