South Park teased a new episode on Wednesday, taking a swipe at President Donald Trump’s federalization of Washington, D.C.
Newsweek reached out to the White House via email for comment.
Why It Matters
The deployments of National Guard troops to the nation’s capital represent an unprecedented federal intervention in the District of Columbia’s local policing and prompted legal challenges, public protests and sharp criticism from D.C. officials who said the move violated home rule.
The shift raised questions about the use of the National Guard for domestic law-enforcement support and the scope of presidential emergency powers.
What To Know
The episode, titled “Sickofancy,” dropped a teaser that showed tanks and National Guard troops around the White House and the Supreme Court and arrives as the Trump administration had moved to assert federal control over the District’s police force and authorized hundreds of Guard members and federal agents to operate in the city.
The 20-second trailer for the episode shows the character “Towelie” arriving in Washington, D.C., amid soldiers, tanks and armed personnel. In the clip, Towelie said, “This seems like a perfect place for a towel,” as he approaches the White House lawn.
“Sickofancy”: Towelie goes to Washington, D.C.
South Park’s 27th season continues this Wednesday, August 20 at 10/9c on Comedy Central and next day on Paramount+. pic.twitter.com/HVzao5ii4D
— South Park (@SouthPark) August 20, 2025
The broader context for the satire includes President Donald Trump’s declaration of a public-safety emergency for Washington and a federal operation that incorporated agents and roughly 800 National Guard members already activated in the District, alongside additional state guard deployments from governors in several states.
Trump tasked the federal agents and National Guard personnel to traverse city streets in an effort to restore law and order and restore the capital’s beauty, the president said.
South Park has previously taken swipes at the administration, notably depicting Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shooting dogs, in its second episode this season, The Associated Press reports.
What People Are Saying
The White House this week on X: “Make D.C. Safe Again 🇺🇸 In 11 days: ✅ 160+ illegal aliens arrested, including known gang members & those charged with assault, kidnapping, burglary, & more. ✅ 59 firearms seized. ✅380+ total arrests. This operation reflects @POTUS’ commitment to restoring safety & security.”
Trump this week on Truth Social: “D.C. gave Fake Crime numbers in order to create a false illusion of safety. This is a very bad and dangerous thing to do, and they are under serious investigation for so doing! Until 4 days ago, Washington, D.C., was the most unsafe ‘city’ in the United States, and perhaps the World. Now, in just a short period of time, it is perhaps the safest, and getting better every single hour! People are flocking to D.C. again, and soon, the beautification will begin!”
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on X this month: “Violent crime in DC is at its lowest level in 30 years. We had an unacceptable spike in 2023, so we changed our laws and strategies. Now, crime levels are not only down from 2023, but from before the pandemic. Our tactics are working, and we aren’t taking our foot off the gas.”
What Happens Next
The South Park episode will air on Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET.
As federal, state and local officials negotiate legal and operational next steps for the capital’s security, analysts and commentators are expected to continue to use the moment to debate the balance between public safety and local autonomy.
