South Park Rebrands as South America to Satirize Trump Renaming Spree
2 sources across 2 countries · Switzerland · United States
Who reported this
- Neue Zuercher Zeitung
- CNN
What the colours mean
- Left
- Centre-left
- Centre
- Centre-right
- Right
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The creators of the animated series South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, have announced that the show is changing its name to South America. The rebrand is a satirical response to President Donald Trump's efforts to rename geographic landmarks. Parker and Stone stated on X that the change was inspired by the bravery and patriotism of Apple and Google.
The move follows a series of actions by President Trump, including an executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America and Lake Ontario as Lake America. Trump also posted photos suggesting that the state of New Mexico be renamed New America. While the president can rename bodies of water, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham noted that he does not have the power to rename a state.
Google and Apple updated their map services for US users to reflect the official government name changes for the gulf and lake. The rebrand of the television series comes shortly after the show won the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program. The new season is scheduled to debut on September 16 on Comedy Central and Paramount+ in the US, Canada, and Australia.
Coverage of the event differed in framing based on political lean. A center-left source framed the rebrand as a jab at the White House and a critique of the president's behavior. A center-right source framed the event as an example of reality overtaking satire, suggesting that the president's actual actions have become more absurd than the show's caricatures.
How each side framed it
- Centre-left
- Framed the rebrand as a targeted satirical attack on the president's specific policy actions and behavior.
- Centre-right
- Framed the rebrand as a sign that reality has become more absurd than satire can depict.
Sources
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