South Park Season 27
South Park Season 27

The animated comedy series South Park ignited political controversy following the premiere of its 27th season on 23 July 2025. In the episode titled Sermon on the Mount, President Donald Trump was depicted using deepfake technology, appearing fully nude and later climbing into bed with Satan.

The episode has since drawn a sharp reaction from Trump's representatives and intensified ongoing debates about political satire and media influence.

South Park Season 27 Shocks Viewers

The new season premiered on Paramount+ and immediately caught public attention for its highly graphic and satirical depiction of Donald Trump. In the episode, the townspeople protest the return of Jesus to schools, only to discover his appearance is part of a legal settlement with Paramount. Trump sues the town for religious bias, eventually accepting a $3.5 million (£2.59 million) payout in exchange for producing a campaign-style pro-Trump PSA.

A central scene features a deepfake version of Trump wandering a desert, naked, before entering a bed shared with Satan. The sequence ends with Satan mocking Trump's genitalia, contributing to the outrage surrounding the portrayal.

Paramount Settlement With Trump Inspires South Park Satire

The fictional lawsuit in the episode closely mirrors real-world legal developments. Earlier in July, CBS parent company Paramount settled a $16 million (£11.8 million) defamation suit filed by Trump over the editing of a 60 Minutes segment. That settlement, coupled with South Park's own $1.5 billion (£1.11 billion) content deal with Paramount, served as a backdrop to the episode's biting satire.

The creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, used the opportunity to comment on the entanglement of corporate media, politics and legal influence. References in the episode to the Epstein files, legal payouts and streaming politics reinforced the wider themes beyond the comedic surface.

Trump Reacts to South Park Satan Scene

The White House swiftly responded to the episode's broadcast. According to Rolling Stone, spokesperson Taylor Rogers described South Park as 'a fourth‑rate show' and dismissed the episode as a 'desperate attempt for attention.'

Rogers was reported to have said the show 'hasn't been relevant for over 20 years' and accused its creators of benefiting from what she characterised as left-wing hypocrisy masked as satire

South Park Creators Defend Their Approach

Despite initially suggesting that they would avoid Trump satire in Season 27, Parker and Stone chose to open the season with one of their most politically charged episodes to date. The decision appears to reflect their continued resistance to censorship and commitment to addressing current events through controversial humour.

While the creators have not released a full public statement, sources close to the production noted that the episode was intentionally designed to challenge perceptions of free speech within the entertainment industry.

Industry and Public Reactions Highlight Media Tensions

Industry insiders have described the episode as 'one of South Park's most furious satires', highlighting tensions between creative expression and political influence. The episode arrives during Paramount's pending merger with Skydance and amid heightened scrutiny over media compliance with political interests.

Media watchdog groups have also raised questions about the ethical boundaries of deepfake use in satire, although legal experts note that parody remains protected speech under the First Amendment.

The episode has since gone viral on social media, trending across major platforms and reigniting debates over the role of satire in modern American politics.

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