South Park season 29 opens with new setting and reduced focus on Trump
The animated series returns with a premiere that renames the town South America and shifts its satire away from President Trump, though he appears in a brief opening cameo.
Comedy Central launched the 29th season of "South Park" on September 16 with an episode titled "South American Biker Gangs." The show introduced a new title sequence that briefly shows an animated Donald Trump wiping himself with an American flag, and the series’ name was altered to "South America" in the opening credits and on town signage. The change satirizes recent map updates by tech companies after Trump’s proposal to rename Lake Ontario.
Within the episode, the town’s name is consistently referred to as South America, but the plot primarily follows a storyline about children riding e-bikes dangerously. A news reporter in the episode comments on the town’s unchallenged acceptance of the name change, echoing the show’s broader commentary on corporate compliance.
The episode also includes a running gag about the upcoming midterm elections, with characters noting that "the country has gone south" and hoping for improvement by November, the release month of a popular video game.
After two seasons that centered heavily on Trump—featuring him in storylines such as a fictional pregnancy involving Satan—the creators indicated they would not abandon political satire altogether. In a statement, co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone said the name change was "inspired by the bravery and patriotism of Apple and Google," referencing the companies’ map updates.
While Trump’s presence is limited to the opening sequence, the premiere suggests a shift toward broader storylines beyond the former president.