'South Park' becomes 'South America' as creators mock Trump's renaming spree

The creators of South Park have renamed the long-running animated series "South America", a satirical response to US President Donald Trump's push to rebrand American geographic landmarks and to the tech companies that have complied.

"Inspired by the bravery and patriotism of Apple and Google, we are changing the name of South Park to SOUTH AMERICA. We especially want to thank our parent company Paramount — a Skydance Capitulation," co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone said in a statement posted on X on Tuesday.

As reported by The Times of India, the announcement came a week before the show's 29th season premieres on Comedy Central on September 16. The name has been updated on the show's X account but not on its website or on Paramount+, suggesting the change is a promotional gag rather than a formal rebrand.


What the joke is aimed at

Trump signed an executive order on August 27 directing that Lake Ontario be renamed "Lake America", escalating a trade dispute with Canada. The order instructed Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and the Board on Geographic Names to make the change within 30 days, including updating the Geographic Names Information System. Trump had first floated the idea after trade talks with Ottawa collapsed and after he imposed 50% tariffs on roughly $20 billion worth of Canadian goods, which Canada matched with its own retaliatory duties.

Also read: Trump wants to rename Lake Ontario ‘Lake America’ even as its name predates both US and Canada; Canadians say no

It followed the January 2025 order renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America". Apple Maps and Google Maps adopted the federal names for US users in both cases, while Canadian users continue to see "Lake Ontario", which remains the official name in the Canadian Geographical Names Database.

Days before the South Park announcement, Trump posted an image on Truth Social showing New Mexico with "Mexico" struck out and replaced with "America", appearing to suggest the state be called "New America". He returned to the theme on Monday with a series of similar posts. The president can direct changes to federal geographic naming records, but has no constitutional authority to rename a US state. New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said the state's name "isn't up for debate — it's been ours since before the United States existed."

Canadian leaders rejected the lake order as well. Prime Minister Mark Carney noted the name derives from the Wendat word Ontari'io and predates both countries, while Ontario Premier Doug Ford unveiled a billboard-sized sign on the Canadian shoreline reading "Lake Ontario. Now and Always".

The Paramount subtext

The "Skydance Capitulation" line refers to South Park's parent company. The Federal Communications Commission approved the $8 billion Paramount-Skydance merger last year, after Paramount settled a Trump lawsuit over a 60 Minutes interview for $16 million. Parker and Stone have repeatedly written the dispute into the show itself.

Also read: Trump suggests renaming Strait of Hormuz 'Trump Strait'

The rebrand also lands two days after an awards win. South Park took Outstanding Animated Program at the 78th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards for "Sermon on the 'Mount", the Season 27 premiere, its first win in the category since 2013, following earlier wins in 2005, 2007 and 2009. The show marked the win by posting a cartoon of Trump holding an Emmy with the caption "YOU FINALLY GOT YOUR EMMY", a reference to his complaints about never winning one for The Apprentice.

The series has run since 1997. Season 29 episodes will also stream on Paramount+ in several markets.

(With inputs from TOI)