South Park renames show South America to mock Trump ahead of season 29

Trey Parker and Matt Stone are celebrating the show's first Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program since 2013 with a sarcastic rebranding. On Tuesday, Sept. 8, the creators announced that South Park is changing its name to South America ahead of its 29th season, transforming the series' own identity into a weapon against President Donald Trump's efforts to rename geographic landmarks.

The move is a direct response to executive orders from the Trump administration to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America and Lake Ontario as Lake America. In a press release, Parker and Stone stated they were inspired by the bravery and patriotism of Apple and Google, mocking the tech giants for updating their map applications to reflect the administration's preferred names.

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The Geography of a Trade War

This rebranding is embedded in a broader pattern of geographic renaming led by the president. Upon returning to office in January 2025, Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America, a move that prompted Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to suggest renaming North America to América Mexicana, according to Ms.

Trump more recently directed the federal government to refer to Lake Ontario as Lake America following the collapse of trade talks with Canada. This geographic dispute serves as a flashpoint in a severe trade war. Trump has imposed tariffs of up to 50% on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods. In response, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney implemented dollar for dollar retaliatory tariffs on approximately $20 billion of U.S. Imports.

The conflict escalated on Tuesday, Sept. 8, when Trump ordered the removal of Canadian-origin products from federal Multiple Award Schedules. This directive effectively blocks Canadian firms from procurement contracts, as reported by Ms.

While the federal government lacks the authority to unilaterally rename an international body of water like Lake Ontario, private industry has legitimized the shift. While Apple and Google complied, MapQuest refused the change—a decision that propelled the service to the No. 1 spot among free iPhone apps in the U.S., according to Dailyvoice.

An Ipsos/Reuters poll conducted Aug. 28-30 found that 63% of respondents oppose the renaming of Lake Ontario. Despite this, Trump's renaming efforts continue to expand. On Monday, Sept. 7, he proposed via Truth Social that the state of New Mexico be renamed New America, though New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has stated the name is not currently up for debate. He has also floated the idea of renaming the Strait of Hormuz to Trump Strait, according to aol.com.

The 'Skydance Capitulation'

Parker and Stone used the announcement to target not only the White House but also the corporate structure governing their show. By thanking their parent company, Paramount, and calling it a Skydance Capitulation, the creators referenced a $16 million settlement Paramount paid to resolve a civil lawsuit brought by Trump.

Critics, as cited by dailyvoice.com and ms.now, have viewed this payment as an attempt to ensure Trump's approval of Paramount's merger with Skydance Media, which the Federal Communications Commission approved in 2025.

Internal corporate tension mirrors a shift in the show's creative strategy. In previous years, the series used the character Mr. Garrison as a proxy to mirror Trump's persona. However, during Seasons 27 and 28, the show transitioned to portraying Trump directly. These seasons featured a plotline in which the Trump character impregnated Satan; in the Season 28 finale, the unborn child died by suicide in Satan's womb, a direct reference to the death of Jeffrey Epstein, according to dailyvoice.com.

Audience Polarization

The rebranding has exposed a divide within the viewership. Some fans on X praised the creators for doing the work of the people and highlighting ridiculously stupid Trump actions, according to aol.com.

Other viewers argue the show has abandoned its tradition of equal-opportunity satire. Some claim the series has become 100% about donald trump and that the repetitive focus is becoming tedious.

The White House has previously dismissed the production as a fourth-rate show following its attacks on officials including Vice President JD Vance, then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and former Attorney General Pam Bondi, according to dailyvoice.com.

The show's current trajectory suggests the administration will remain the central focus. Following the Emmy win for the episode Sermon On The 'Mount, the official South Park account posted an image of the animated Trump character holding the award with his pants down. According to hollywoodreporter.com, the image mocked the president's history of complaining about never winning an Emmy for The Apprentice.

Whether the "South America" title persists beyond a promotional stunt will be determined on Wednesday, Sept. 16, when the season premieres on Comedy Central. Subsequent episodes are scheduled for Sept. 30, Oct. 14, Oct. 28, Nov. 11, and Nov. 25, according to Ibtimes.