‘South Park’ Trolls Donald Trump After Winning First Animated Program Emmy In 13 Years

Don’t call it a comeback — Comedy Central’s South Park, which returned to the Outstanding Animated Program category with its first nomination in five years, landed its first win in 13 years. On stage, South Park co-creator Trey Parker thanked fans. On social media, the show celebrated by taunting the Emmy-winning episodes’ frequent target, President Donald Trump. Surrounded by the South Park characters, including Satan, who delivered Parker a character voice-over nomination this year, the cartoon version of the President is holding an Emmy statuette with his pants and underwear down. The slogan, “You finally got your Emmy,” likely refers to Trump’s penchant for trophies and his status of a two-time Emmy nominee. As an executive producer of NBC’s The Apprentice, Trump shared in two Outstanding Reality-Competition Program nominations, in 2004 and 2005. The Apprentice lost to CBS’ The Amazing Race both times. Watch on Deadline Trump, depicted on South Park with real photographs pasted on an animated body, was relentlessly mocked during the 10 episodes that aired during the eligibility window for the 2026 Emmys Awards, split into two five-episode seasons, 27 and 28. The satire led to the White House clapping back with a statement that “the show has been irrelevant for 20 years, relying on uninspired ideas for attention.” The lampooning of Trump is part of South Park’ storied high-wire act tradition of courting controversy with provocative, ripped-from-the headlines stories skewering pop culture. Which explains Parker’s aknowledgement accepting the Animated Program Emmy on stage Sunday, the show’s sixth win out of 19 nominations in the category. “A big thank you to the greatest fans in the world. It’s only because of you guys that we haven’t been canceled in 30 years,” he said. Created by Parker and Matt Stone, South Park, which premiered in 1997, scored a record three Emmy nominations this year in addition to a Television Academy Honor. As promoted in the Emmy celebration collage with Trump, the series returns with new episodes Sept. 16.