Trump administration stands at center of sharp rebuke by "South Park" creators, highlighted by five pointed remarks.
South Park, the iconic animated series, is back for its 27th season and continues to push boundaries with its latest episode. This week's instalment, airing on August 6 at 10/9c on Comedy Central and available next day on Paramount+, features a controversial use of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) screenshot in its trailer.
The trailer, which can be viewed here, shows a dinner scene with President Donald Trump and Satan. In a surprising twist, Trump attempts to inappropriately touch Satan, who responds by saying "Stop!" and pushing his hand away.
The use of an ICE screenshot in the trailer has created controversy, as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) used the image for recruitment purposes before the episode's airing. A spokesperson for ICE expressed gratitude to South Park for bringing attention to ICE law enforcement recruitment. However, this move has prompted a vulgar and confrontational response from South Park's official social media account, highlighting ongoing tensions between the show and the Trump administration.
The team behind South Park responded to Homeland Security using their show to promote itself, saying "Wait, so we ARE relevant?" The response was accompanied by the hashtag "#eatabagofdicks."
This clash has also been part of wider discussion and controversy surrounding South Park's political portrayals. In the season premiere, the show mocked President Trump, featuring a cartoon Trump in bed with Satan and a very realistic Trump tearing off his clothing to reveal a "teeny tiny" talking penis.
In the upcoming episode, Mr. Mackey, a beloved character from the show, is seen trying to join ICE after losing his job. South Park has released new screenshots of the episode, one of which shows Mr. Mackey desperately trying to find a new way to make a living.
The video trailer for the episode also uses an image taken and used by ICE, likely without permission. This incident has drawn public attention, with South Park sarcastically acknowledging their relevance due to the DHS using their content for recruitment, while DHS defends its campaign by emphasizing the recruitment of agents to remove violent criminals from the country and highlighting benefits like signing bonuses and retirement options.
The new episode of South Park airs on August 6, 2025, on Comedy Central and will be available on Paramount+ the next day. As always, viewers can expect South Park to tackle controversial topics with its unique blend of humour and satire.
[1] South Park uses ICE screenshot in controversial recruitment post [2] South Park responds to Homeland Security using their show to promote itself [3] Trump White House displeased with South Park episode featuring ICE recruitment [4] South Park mocks President Donald Trump in season premiere [5] South Park releases new screenshots of upcoming episode featuring Mr. Mackey joining ICE
[1] The controversial recruitment post by South Park features an image taken and used by ICE, sparking a debate about the boundary between entertainment and social-media activism.
[2] In a response to Homeland Security using South Park's content for recruitment, the show's official social-media account sarcastically declared, "#eatabagofdicks," highlighting ongoing tensions between the show and the Trump administration. This response can be seen as an example of how pop-culture figures often use social media as a platform for engaging with political issues.
