South Park Renamed ‘South America’ to Troll Trump
The creators of South Park have found another way to turn current politics into comedy.
Trey Parker and Matt Stone announced that their long-running animated series is being renamed “South America,” a satirical move aimed at President Donald Trump and the recent push to give several geographic locations more explicitly American names.
The announcement came Tuesday, Sept. 8, shortly after South Park won the Outstanding Animated Program award at the 2026 Creative Arts Emmy Awards.
Why is South Park being called South America?
Parker and Stone framed the change as a tongue-in-cheek response to Apple and Google adopting some of the geographic naming changes promoted by the Trump administration.
In their announcement, the creators said the move was inspired by the “bravery and patriotism” of Apple and Google and announced that South Park would become “SOUTH AMERICA.” They also took a swipe at their corporate parent, Paramount, with another sarcastic reference to the company’s relationship with Skydance.
The joke follows a series of controversial naming changes associated with Trump’s second administration.
The Gulf of Mexico has been referred to by the Trump administration as the Gulf of America, while Lake Ontario has also been given the name Lake America on some U.S.-focused digital maps. Trump has additionally suggested changing the name of New Mexico to New America.
Rather than simply commenting on those changes, South Park has turned the naming trend into its own punchline.
South Park has repeatedly targeted Trump
The latest joke is hardly a surprise for longtime viewers.
South Park has repeatedly used its trademark irreverent style to satirize Trump, American politics and political culture. The show’s recent material has made the president and his administration frequent targets.
That political edge was also recognized at this year’s Creative Arts Emmy Awards.
The series won Outstanding Animated Program for its episode “Sermon On The ‘Mount,” adding another major award to the show’s long Emmy history.
The Emmy win also gave Parker and Stone another opportunity to poke fun at Trump, who has previously complained about his own Emmy history.
When does South Park Season 29 premiere?
Despite the headline-making name change, fans won’t have to wait long for the show’s return.
Season 29 of South Park premieres Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Comedy Central. New episodes will also become available on Paramount+ the following day in the U.S., Canada and Australia, according to South Park Studios.
Additional episodes are scheduled for Sept. 30, Oct. 14, Oct. 28, Nov. 11 and Nov. 25.
Is the show permanently called South America?
For now, the creators are leaning fully into the joke.
When asked how long the name change would last, Parker and Stone reportedly doubled down on the gag, saying they were “100% committed” to South America.
Whether the new name lasts beyond the promotional stunt remains part of the joke. The official South Park announcement describes it as a major change following the show’s Emmy victory, while the series continues to be promoted around its upcoming 29th season.
What the South Park name change really means
The “South America” rebrand is less about changing the identity of the television series and more about South Park doing what it has done for nearly three decades: turning a headline into satire.
By borrowing the language surrounding recent geographic renaming efforts, Parker and Stone have created a joke that works on several levels — poking fun at Trump, digital mapping companies and corporate decision-making while promoting the show’s return.
The timing is also notable. South Park has just collected another Emmy, and Season 29 is days away from its premiere.
So while viewers may see “South America” across the show’s latest promotional material, the underlying message is unmistakably South Park: the political news cycle has once again become material for the comedy series.