Following the recent US presidential election, a controversial new painting featuring Donald Trump has appeared in a Manchester city centre shop window.
Popping up in a small and largely empty outlet on Deansgate, the striking political cartoon is now one of the first sights you see heading down the main strip from the Castlefield direction and is already turning heads.
Created by acclaimed Manchester artist Michael J Browne – who is known for recent works such as a collaborative exhibition with Eric Cantona at the National Football Museum – the piece is quickly gaining attention and resulting in plenty of discussion as intended.
Entitled America First – Trump, Putin, China, it is now on display in the window of a ground floor unit of Great Northern Warehouse.
We don’t think the construction work was part of the plan but there’s some ironic about it. (Credit: The Manc Group)
Known for blending Renaissance-inspired techniques with modern social and political themes, as per an official press release, his new large-scale oil painting “dives into the dynamics of power and ego, up against sacrifice.”
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As you can see, the piece features a hulking green Donald Trump attached to a crucifix, concealing a sacrificial Jesus, framed by an American flag and a flock of sheep in the background. To the right, Vladimir Putin appears as a modern John the Baptist, quoting “I must decrease, so he can increase”.
Meanwhile, a modern Chinese couple in traditional Han clothing represents “an element of China’s old tradition, with a quote reserved for its royal dynasties ‘Mandate of Heaven'” with scorched earth around them pointing towards the continued environmental destruction of the modern world.
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Taking six weeks to complete, Deansgate‘s provocative Trump painting was actually started way back in March 2024 and was also inspired by Browne’s last piece of work.
Having previously spotlighted the Black Panthers movement in mid-1960s America in For 30 pieces of silver, his follow-up is another commentary on power and could be described as a high-end political cartoon like those drawn in newspapers for centuries.
For 30 pieces of silver features both Trump and Putin, as well as Chinese leader Xi Jinping. (Michael J Browne 2023)
Also drawing inspiration from the ‘Isenheim Altarpiece’ – a widely-admired German Renaissance masterpiece depicting suffering and redemption – this time the Moss Side artist has managed to weave together biblical allegory with current affairs and global geopolitics.
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Commenting on the rather stark imagery, Michael says “It’s superimposed power, aggressiveness. Removing God’s Grace! […] The pursuit of power is leaving destruction in its wake—socially, politically, and environmentally.”
Taking cues from ‘Saint Anthony’s fire’, (a disease now referred to as ergotism that is often depicted as a very religious plague), the feeling of skin being on fire is transferred to the landscape itself; “The pursuit of power is leaving destruction in its wake—socially, politically, and environmentally“, he adds.
Michael also coincidentally painted bullets and used shells around Trump’s feet months before the former 45th and now returning 47th US President narrowly survived an assassination attempt on his campaign trail.
America First – Trump, Putin, China can be checked out in full public view on the corner of Great Northern in Deansgate as we speak.
Information for viewers will accompany the painting which is also available for purchase.
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Based over at GRIT Studios who have two Greater Manchester locations along with several other local artists, you can find out more about Michael’s work HERE.
Featured Images — Supplied (via Michael J Browne)/The Manc Group
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Greater Manchester’s ‘Stroll for Salford’ walking event returns for its second year in 2026
Danny Jones
Following its successful debut last year, Greater Manchester’s now much-loved Stroll for Salford (SfS) event is back for 2026 this autumn.
We’d like to think everyone from around here is filled with hometown pride, but you ask anyone from Salford, and they’ll quickly remind you that this place is its own city, and that it quite rightly deserves celebrating all of its own.
And that’s exactly what the SfS is all about: not just toasting it as the region’s so-called ‘second city’, but as the culturally abundant place that it is and has been for more than 100 years.
Yes, with this sophomore edition following on from the borough celebrating its official Centenary, what better time to hail all things Salfordian.
Stroll for Salford is back🚶🧡
We are delighted to announce the return of the popular fundraising walk back for its second edition on Saturday 19th September as part of Salford's Centenary Year celebrations!
— Salford City FC Foundation (@SalfordCity_FDN) July 30, 2026
Set up by Salford City FC and the partnered charity arm, Foundation 92, the inaugural walk raised more than £3,000 for charity with its maiden event.
Thousands got behind the cause, be it through volunteering and/or donating, as well as talking on the walking route itself back in October.
It’s actually happening a little earlier this time, with the second Stroll for Salford scheduled for Saturday, 19 September.
Kicking off from 10am, those taking part will be setting out on foot for a six-mile journey across the city, starting at the likes of the Civic Centre in Swinton, before passing through other key towns and finishing, of course, at Salford’s AIG Stadium on Moor Lane in Kersal.
The local League Two side continues to do plenty of important work in and around the community – this is just one of many recent, well-received initiatives.
As mentioned earlier, those getting involved will not only receive a special Salford t-shirt following the event alongside a finisher’s medal, but even a complimentary ticket to go and see ‘The Ammies’ in action at their home ground this season.
Not a bad deal at all.
For anyone uninitiated interested in coming along the journey, the route will also pass several key landmarks and a real sense of local history – all while doing your bit for a good cause.
You can help raise important funds for the local area and sign up for the Stroll for Salford 2026 HERE.
Elsewhere in Greater Manchester, another wholesome all-ages event is fast-approaching this August, too; keep on reading to find out all about it…
Andy Burnham invites opposition party leaders to help tackle ‘broken’ social care system
Emily Sergeant
Andy Burnham has announced that he is making the choice to fix the ‘broken’ social care system by finding ‘common ground’ across party lines.
Attempting to draw a line under what the Government has described as ‘decades of decline’ and a refusal to tackle these problems head on, Andy Burnham has now called on all political parties to focus on solving problems and finding solutions together, rather than pointing fingers at the opposition and getting nowhere.
The Prime Minister has reiterated the need for ‘a new kind of politics’ that puts differences aside in order to come together and face up to the challenges that he says Westminster has left unaddressed for ‘too long’.
Burnham invited the leaders of the two main opposition parties, Kemi Badenoch and Ed Davey, to meet with him today (29 July) to ‘kickstart’ this work and discuss an urgent reform on social care.
The three leaders were jointed by Health Secretary Yvette Cooper and Baroness Louise Casey, who is leading the Independent Commission on Adult Social Care which will draw up recommendations to deliver a National Care Service.
Baroness Casey has also launched the new Big Conversation on Care today.
The Big Conversation on Care is giving the public a chance to share their views and help shape the future of adult social care in England so that it is designed for the people it is there to serve.
The consultation will be open to everyone through a new online platform, and will start off the conversation by asking people about what the ‘values and principles’ we should all expect from a care system are.
“Last week I said we needed a different kind of politics [and] nowhere is that more urgent than social care,” Andy Burnham said in his speech.
“For decades, Governments have kicked this issue down the road because they’ve seen it as too risky, too difficult, and too complicated. Politicians might have different views but I’m serious about fixing this issue, and to do that, we have to find common ground and listen to others to find a way forward.
“That’s why I’m making this choice and I’m prepared to put everything I’ve got behind it.”
The Prime Minister says it’s time to ‘draw a line under people playing politics’ when the human cost of that means carers are struggling, families are paying the price, and the NHS is ‘buckling’ under the strain.
“This comes down to a choice,” his statement continued.
“We can carry on passing the problem to the next generation, or we can face it head on and work together to build a care system that gives people dignity, security and the support they deserve.”
Danny Jones -
29th January 2025 
