Continuing the current season's series of digs at Trump, "South Park" has now lampooned Tim Cook's presentation to him of a commemorative plaque.

Trump was threatening tariffs that would hurt Apple, ostensibly because Tim Cook hadn't come to an event. So Cook presents Trump with a plaque and right away, the President entirely backs down on his repeated insistence that Apple must move iPhone manufacturing to the US.

This isn't how government policy is supposed to be decided, but Cook and Apple have repeatedly proven themselves to be politically astute — even if this time, it took Cook looking sycophantic. Now "South Park," in an episode called "Sickofancy," has parodied Cook's presentation, and how this is now the way you do business in the US.

As detailed by Deadline magazine, in the episode, Towelie (voiced by Vernon Chatman) wants Trump to decriminalize marijuana. On his way, Towelie passes through Union Station, which the comedy shows as being militarized.

Then in line at the White House, Towelie and others are instructed to "Please make sure you have a reservation and that you have your gifts ready."

In a dig at what presenting gifts to Trump means for your reputation, Towelie learns that he himself is the present, and is to be trapped in the White House along with Satan. Yes, you read that right.

It's not what you'd call subtle humor, but, "South Park" never has been. Yet it's also not fantasy, as its depiction of Cook might be cruel, but it's accurate, and on the day the episode aired, JD Vance visited a militarized Union Station.

South Park versus Trump

Neither Trump nor the White House has commented on this latest "South Park" episode, but it has criticized the show's recent anti-Trump editions.

"This show hasn't been relevant for over 20 years," a spokesperson said in July 2025, "and is hanging on by a thread with uninspired ideas in a desperate attempt for attention."

The spokesperson was clearly wrong. Also in July, "South Park" makers Trey Parker and Matt Stone signed a streaming deal worth $1.5 billion. As reported by the Los Angeles Times, this five-year deal is with Paramount, who now gets global streaming rights.

Notably, this comes after Paramount's attempt to merge with Skydance Media was finally approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). That approval came after Paramount agreed to pay Trump $16 million to settle a spurious legal dispute.

There is no evidence that Trump played any part in the FCC's eventual ruling, but Skydance promised to follow the current administration's policies and, unlike Apple, end its DEI initiatives.

For its part, Paramount itself cancelled "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," allegedly to get the deal made.

With the merger approved, Paramount-owned "South Park" is now no more likely to cease its criticisms of Trump, than it is to effect any change. What is likely is that Apple will continue to have to find ways to appease Trump.