South Park Mocks Kristi Noem and Trump administration in latest episode

Trey Parker and Matt Stone are once again taking aim at the Trump administration, following up last week’s biting season premiere with another politically charged installment of South Park. The latest episode, “Got A Nut,” expands the satire beyond President Donald Trump himself to lampoon several members of his team.

From the Classroom to ICE: Mr. Mackay’s New Job

The episode opens with school counselor Mr. Mackay losing his position due to Department of Education budget cuts. In need of work, he joins Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). During training, Mackay and other recruits watch a video message from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who describes — in disturbing detail — putting down her puppy by shooting it in the face, a storyline inspired by her real-life 2024 memoir admission. Throughout the episode, Noem’s animated counterpart repeatedly shoots dogs as part of an ongoing dark gag.

Satire of Conservative Media and Far-Right Politics

Another subplot skewers the rise of extremist podcasting. Fourth-grader Clyde becomes an online sensation as a white nationalist host, sparking jealousy from Eric Cartman, South Park’s resident provocateur. Determined to reclaim the spotlight, Cartman escalates his own offensive rhetoric, targeting minorities, women, and Jewish people while calling himself a “master debater.”

Mackay’s ICE work intersects with this storyline when he joins raids in which Noem shouts, “Only detain the brown ones!” His and Clyde’s efforts are rewarded with a trip to Mar-a-Lago, where they are welcomed by Trump and Vice President JD Vance — both dressed in white suits in a nod to Fantasy Island characters Mr. Roarke and Tattoo.

White House Response and Industry Backdrop

The White House dismissed last week’s South Park season opener, which mocked Trump directly. Spokesperson Taylor Rogers told CNN, “This show hasn’t been relevant for over 20 years… President Trump has delivered on more promises in just six months than any other president in our country’s history – and no fourth-rate show can derail President Trump’s hot streak.”

Behind the scenes, Parker and Stone have voiced frustration over corporate upheaval affecting their work. In the lead-up to the season’s debut, they criticized the proposed merger of Paramount Global and Skydance Media, calling it “a s**tshow” and warning it could disrupt South Park’s production. Their concerns were amplified after CBS announced the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, a move some speculated was meant to placate Trump.

On Thursday, Skydance Media and Paramount Global confirmed that the merger had been finalized, setting the stage for potential further tensions between the show’s creators and their network partners.