The new season of the animated series “South Park” has sparked controversy with its latest episode featuring President Trump in bed with Satan discussing Jeffrey Epstein. The White House condemned the show, calling it a “fourth-rate” program that hasn’t been relevant for over 20 years. However, the episode drew strong ratings and saw some Trump administration officials attempt to poke fun at themselves.
Vice President JD Vance took to social media to showcase his humor, reposting a scene where he’s depicted as “Tattoo,” the short sidekick from the original series. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, on the other hand, was portrayed as a serial dog shooter in the episode. When confronted about her depiction on the show, Noem claimed it was “lazy” to mock women for their appearance and said only liberals do so.
The show’s return has reignited its reputation as a satirical force, with tart observations of the Trump administration commanding attention online. The Department of Homeland Security even shared an ICE recruitment ad on X, prompting a cheeky response from the show’s social media account. Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, who was also parodied in the episode, surprisingly took the jokes in stride and shared clips from the show on his own social media accounts.
Despite the backlash, “South Park” remains a relevant and biting commentary on current events, using dark humor to tackle topics like politics and identity.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/07/arts/television/south-park-episode-two-ice.html