This article examines the definition of political caricature in modern realities, notes its characteristic features, functions and scope of functioning. In addition, the author analyzes the importance of political caricature as a means of communication between the government and society. The article reveals the images of Russian and American political elites in the field of view of the authors of cartoons, their features and influence on the image of the state. In the framework of the study of Russian political elites, special attention is paid to the image of V. Putin and D. Medvedev, their relationship and the influence of the USSR on the modern interpretation of the political reality of Russia in foreign cartoons. The study of the image of D. Trump is based on the evolutionary features of his policy. The main significant events that influenced the image of the political leader and their reflection in the political caricature of the state are considered. In addition, a special interest in the study of the image of D. Trump in modern political cartoons is based on the fact that the political elite was directly connected with the Capitoline riot in early 2021. In this regard, this paper also analyzes the impact of this event on the modern political caricature.
