South Park debuted a new episode this week following the creators’ $1.5 billion deal with Paramount. The latest episode, which centers on Donald Trump, suffered from low-quality humor and lack of originality. While Newsweek described it as a harsh takedown of Trump, many viewers consider tiny dick jokes outdated and uninspired. The episode largely repeats tired jokes about Trump’s weight, physique, and other tired tropes without any meaningful satire or insight.
The creators, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, have a history of mocking political and social issues, including wokeness and political correctness. However, this recent episode falls short, relying mainly on simple insults rather than sharp commentary. The portrayal of Trump as a Saddam Hussein figure dating Satan felt like recycled material rather than fresh content. Instead of tackling substantive topics related to Trump, such as the Epstein files – which could have offered far richer satire – the episode just stuck to unoriginal jokes about Trump’s appearance.
Wow so comedy
— NOVA (@NOVAxKING) July 24, 2025
South Park is officially washed.
— JM (@FreeWarfare) July 24, 2025
This episode reflects a broader decline in South Park’s creative edge. Past seasons offered clever critiques of cultural and political subjects, sometimes with biting humor. But now, the show seems disengaged, as if the creators are less invested, possibly due to their financial security from lucrative deals. Their once distinct voice feels diluted, and their satire less pointed. Maybe they’re rich enough? How do you turn down $1.5 billion dollars though? At least they proved they didn’t axe Stephen Colbert over fear of Trump jokes.
The premiere episode also touched on other themes, like mocking the decline of woke culture and portraying Trump trying to put faith back in schools. The segment about Cartman reacting to the “death” of woke culture added to my feeling that the show is just recycling old material without nuance. Critics note that while South Park claims to mock both sides politically, it largely targets conservatives and Trump with a relentless focus, often ignoring figures like Biden or Harris. The recent episode reinforced this trend, missing chances to lampoon other political figures or more current, complex issues.
I was a big South Park fan but like SNL they refused to touch Obama and then Biden. Jokes about Bush & Trump were every episode. SNL cold open. But they just ignore when Dems are in power and switch to generic social commentary. I don’t like cowardice. https://t.co/KhPxKmH8jh
— Daniel Turner (@DanielTurnerPTF) July 22, 2025
That enormous $1.5 billion deal for new South Park content might secure the show’s future, but not the quality since it might encourage quantity over creativity, resulting in more tired episodes that feel rushed and poorly conceived. This latest Trump episode is more evidence that the series has lost its sharpness and is now content to produce safe, repetitive jokes instead of bold satire. I’m not offended, except that South Park has failed to deliver the incisive humor that once made it a cultural staple. Its reliance on outdated jokes about Trump’s appearance, the total lack of meaningful commentary, and more recycled storylines show signs of creative fatigue.
It’s been a good run, but I think South Park may have finally lost the edge that once set it apart.
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English (US) · 