In its signature no-holds-barred style, the long-running animated series South Park has returned with a fresh batch of satire, this time targeting international diplomacy and the state of American politics. The latest episode, titled 'Turkey Trot', which aired in the UK on Thursday 27 November 2025, uses the town's Thanksgiving festivities as a backdrop to lampoon Saudi Arabia's growing influence in global entertainment and sport.
A Sponsored Turkey Trot with Strings Attached
The central plot of the episode revolves around the town's annual Turkey Trot race receiving a new, controversial sponsor: Saudi Arabia. The show depicts a promotional video for the event that explicitly forbids participants from making any disparaging remarks about the Saudi royal family, a direct jab at the kingdom's well-documented efforts to sponsor major cultural and sporting events, a practice often labelled as 'sportswashing'.
Adding to the chaotic commentary on contemporary US politics, the episode features a portrayal of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. The character is shown completely misreading the situation, mistakenly identifying the friendly race as an Antifa uprising. Rather than addressing the non-existent threat, he is preoccupied with creating social media content, urgently asking his followers to “like and subscribe”.
Cartman's Defence and the Creators' Commentary
Ever the contrarian, the character Eric Cartman leaps to Saudi Arabia's defence. In a moment of twisted logic that fans will recognise, Cartman argues that the nation is “trying to be progressive” by “buying American stuff” instead of resorting to its historical practices, offering a cynical take on modern geopolitical and economic relationships.
The episode's sharp edge comes straight from the top. South Park co-creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker provided context for their approach, noting that the lines between politics and pop culture have become increasingly blurred. They explained that they are consistently drawn to satirising taboos and what they describe as 'extremists of any kind' across the entire political spectrum, finding rich material in today's polarised climate.
A Legacy of Pushing Boundaries
This latest instalment continues South Park's long tradition of tackling sensitive and current topics with equal parts humour and audacity. By focusing on Saudi Arabia's sponsorship ventures and the performative nature of modern political figures, the show demonstrates its ongoing relevance and fearlessness in an era where few subjects are considered off-limits for comedy.
