South Park creators rename show 'South America' in apparent dig at Trump - BBC NewsBBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountHomeNewsSportEarthReelWorklifeTravelCultureFutureMusicTVWeatherSoundsMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportEarthReelWorklifeTravelCultureFutureMusicTVWeatherSoundsClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeClimateWorldUS & CanadaUKBusinessTechScienceEntertainment & ArtsHealthMoreIn PicturesBBC VerifyNewsbeatEntertainment & ArtsSouth Park creators rename show 'South America' in apparent dig at TrumpImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The announcement comes after South Park won an Emmy for Outstanding Animated ProgramByClaire KeenanPublished9 September 2026, 06:39 BSTThe creators of South Park, the animated TV show, have announced that its new series will be named South America, in an apparent reference to US President Donald Trump's attempts to rename a lake and a gulf."Inspired by the bravery and patriotism of Apple and Google, we are changing the name of South Park to SOUTH AMERICA," creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker wrote in a statement. Trump signed an executive order in August to rename Lake Ontario as Lake America, and last year declared that the Gulf of Mexico be known as the Gulf of America.The announcement from South Park, now in its 29th season, comes after the show won an Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program on Sunday.It's not yet known whether the new name will be adopted permanently, or if it will revert to South Park later in the series.The name change shared to the show's official social media account featured an image of the South Park sign with the word 'Park' replaced with 'America'."We especially want to thank our parent company Paramount - a Skydance Capitulation," its creators said in the post.Paramount Skydance is the show's parent company. The Trump administration this year approved a $111bn (£82.8bn) merger with Warner Bros Discovery - one of the biggest media deals in history. But the merger has since been paused until June 2027, after 12 US states filed lawsuits against the deal for fear of it harming competition and leading to higher prices for consumers. A day before the show's announcement, Trump shared an AI-generated video of him placing the word 'America' over 'Mexico' on a "Welcome to New Mexico" sign.In August, as trade tensions escalated between the US and Canada, Trump ordered a similar change for Lake Ontario - renaming it Lake America.Apple and Google subsequently changed the name in their respective Maps apps for US-based users.And last year, Trump ordered the Gulf of Mexico be renamed as Gulf of America. Mexico has rejected the name change, arguing a single country cannot rename a shared body of international water.South Park, which has run since 1997, has regularly mocked the US president during his two presidency terms.Both its creators, Stone and Parker, have repeatedly drawn criticism from Trump, the White House and MAGA supporters for its jabs at the president. During its 27th season, the White House described South Park as a "fourth-rate" show that was "hanging on by a thread with uninspired ideas in a desperate attempt for attention", after an episode depicted Trump naked in bed with Satan.After winning the award for Outstanding Animated Program on Sunday, South Park also shared an image depicting a fictionalised Donald Trump with the words: "You finally got your Emmy."The new season of will premiere on 16 September.Related topicsDonald TrumpTelevisionAnimationMore on this storyApple Maps renames Lake Ontario as Lake America after Trump orderPublished2 SeptemberSouth Park to reduce Trump jokesPublished7 July 2017The video playlistWatch our pick of standout clips from across the BBCPreviousNext1:15Drinking very hot drinks may increase cancer risk. 00:01:15, play videoDrinking very hot drinks may increase cancer risk1:00Teens missing education going 'under the radar' 00:01:00, play videoTeens missing education going 'under the radar'0:36Learner drivers still forced to wait months to book tests. 00:00:36, play videoLearner drivers still forced to wait months to book tests1:14Flight to Italy for couple's wedding cancelled. 00:01:14, play videoFlight to Italy for couple's wedding cancelled1:11RNLI volunteer targeted online speaks to the BBC. 00:01:11, play videoRNLI volunteer targeted online speaks to the BBC1:04Reuniting with the teacher who changed my life. 00:01:04, play videoReuniting with the teacher who changed my life0:56How Israel responded to UK sanctions on West Bank settlements. 00:00:56, play videoHow Israel responded to UK sanctions on West Bank settlements0:30'There's isn't really a cheat code to grief' 00:00:30, play video'There's isn't really a cheat code to grief'0:34Midweek meal - crispy mango tofu quinoa bowl. 00:00:34, play videoMidweek meal - crispy mango tofu quinoa bowl0:27The curse of living with an early bird. 00:00:27, play videoThe curse of living with an early bird1:17'A&E failures ruined my son's life' 00:01:17, play video'A&E failures ruined my son's life'1:07Why do people get ill at Freshers? 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The creators of the animated television series South Park, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, have announced a significant alteration to the show's title, renaming it South America, which they framed as a reference to US President Donald Trump's efforts to rename geographical features. This decision follows the show's recent achievement of an Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program. In their statement, Stone and Parker attributed the change to an inspiration drawn from the perceived bravery and patriotism demonstrated by companies like Apple and Google.

The impetus for the renaming stems directly from actions taken by the Trump administration concerning geographical nomenclature. Earlier in the year, Trump signed an executive order to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America, and subsequently declared that the Gulf of Mexico should be known as the Gulf of America. This context positions the South Park creators' choice as a direct commentary on the political rhetoric and renaming initiatives occurring in the United States. The change was communicated through the show's official social media channels, featuring an image where the word 'Park' has been substituted with 'America'.

The announcement occurred amidst broader media and political tensions. The creators also acknowledged their parent company, Paramount - a Skydance Capitulation, in their post. This context is relevant given the ongoing media landscape, which included the large-scale corporate merger approved by the Trump administration with Warner Bros Discovery, a deal that faced legal challenges from various states regarding competition concerns. Furthermore, the context of the show itself involves a history of mocking the US president, which has drawn criticism from the White House and supporters of the MAGA movement. This dynamic is underscored by past scrutiny, such as when the White House described South Park during its twenty-seventh season as a "fourth-rate" show seeking attention.

The ongoing political interplay is further evidenced by the context of the renaming actions. Following escalating trade tensions between the US and Canada, Trump ordered the renaming of Lake Ontario. Despite this, Mexico has formally rejected such renaming efforts, asserting that a single country cannot unilaterally rename shared international water bodies, which highlights the complexity surrounding international boundaries and nomenclature. The announcement positions the creative work within a larger frame of political satire, leveraging the public discussion surrounding executive actions and national identity. The new season of South Park is scheduled to premiere on September 16th.