South Park Celebrates Emmy Win With Trump Joke Amid Longstanding Rivalry

POLICY WIRE — City, Country — South Park secured its fifth Emmy for Best Animated Show at the 2026 Creative Arts Emmys, marking its first win since 2013 and reigniting its tradition of mocking former President Donald Trump.

The show’s latest season, which aired last year, featured sharp satire targeting Trump and his administration, leading to a significant boost in viewership. The animated series has consistently used its platform to critique political figures, with Trump being a recurring subject in season 27.

A post on the official South Park Instagram account celebrated the victory by featuring a humorous image of Trump holding an Emmy trophy, with his pants and underwear visible. The post included a caption stating, “You finally got your Emmy,” while also teasing new episodes set to debut in September. Trump has long criticized the Emmys, claiming he deserved recognition for his role in The Apprentice, a show he hosted from 2004 to 2015.

Trump once described the Emmys as “the absolute worst show” and accused them of being politically biased, despite The Apprentice receiving eight nominations over its 15 seasons. During the 2016 presidential debate, Hillary Clinton referenced these claims, noting that Trump had complained about not winning an Emmy for three consecutive years. Trump responded with, “Should have gotten it.”

In a 2023 interview with The New York Times, co-creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker explained their decision to focus heavily on Trump in the most recent season. They stated that politics had become part of pop culture, and they felt compelled to address the growing taboo around criticizing the Trump administration. Parker emphasized that their humor targets extremists from all sides of the political spectrum, including past critiques of “woke” culture.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)