The 27th season of South Park is in full swing. This satirical animated series is clearly designed to elicit a Twitterstorm from Donald Trump himself. The creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, have employed their signature style of humor to target the former president, sparking discussions around the impact of their satire on political discourse.
This season, Trump is the main subject of several episodes. In doing so, he shows up in more bizarre, crazy, controversial scenarios that keep getting headlines. In one scene, Trump unflinchingly performs perverted acts with Lucifer. This character is a welcome return after his last appearances debating Saddam Hussein in the South Park movie. This fearless representation is in step with the show’s decades of cutting-edge satire. Often, its purpose is to lampoon political leaders.
The recent episode “Wok Is Dead” built a lot of hype because it was going to directly address Trump’s tariff policies. The episode unapologetically hit you over the head with the message, “Donald Trump is fucking Satan.” This had an immediate impact, resonating with viewers and reflecting the show’s controversial and unnerving style. Within this framework, Trump becomes more than a political leader. He is constantly referred to as “Satan,” emphasizing the dark, troubling aspect of this humorous tale.
The current season has been hugely popular in the ratings, with most crediting its success to the anti-Trump humor that’s been featured this entire season. Parker and Stone straddle this line of satire with expert precision. They copy strategies they’ve first used on other celebrities, such as Tom Cruise in their 2005 shunning, “Trapped in the Closet.” In that same episode, Cruise notoriously shut himself in a wardrobe while other contestants claimed he wouldn’t emerge. South Park Satan, now pregnant with Trump’s newly conceived, ugly, so-called “butt baby.” Their storylines became too similar for comfort! This audacious portrayal takes that challenge even further.
Parker and Stone have proven they can take effective shots at Trump. They might be getting short on new content featuring the ex-president. Critics and fans alike wonder if their relentless focus on Trump might lead them to seek new subjects for satire. The duo hopes to broaden their reach in upcoming episodes. Their goal is to move beyond Trump’s shadow and go more into the weeds on issues that really matter to their listeners.
South Park, now in its 27th season, has certainly always been irreverent. We admire its creators for their willingness to engage controversial topics without pulling punches. The series has always strived to hold a mirror up to society through satire, and with the state of politics today, there’s no shortage of resources. That angle aside, it’s unclear whether Parker and Stone will go on to make a turn against Trump. It’s their bold, in-your-face comedy that continues to return and hook audiences.