Kristi Noem Calls Out ‘South Park’ for ICE Episode

The long-running animated show ‘South Park’ once again thrust itself into the national spotlight this week, airing an episode that takes direct aim at the Department of Homeland Security’s immigration enforcement policies under Secretary Kristi Noem, as well as her public persona and recent controversies. The episode, titled "Got a Nut," aired Wednesday as part of the show’s 27th season and has since sparked significant backlash from Noem and discussion across media outlets nationwide .

Secretary Noem, who had not watched the episode at the time of her response, appeared on “The Glenn Beck Program” Thursday to denounce the show’s depiction of her, calling it “petty” and “lazy.” She argued that the show’s creators defaulted to mocking her appearance, referencing jokes about her use of Botox, instead of offering substantive criticism of her policies. “If they wanted to criticize my job, go ahead and do that, but clearly they can't. They just pick something petty like that,” Noem stated on air .

However, a closer analysis of the episode reveals that the satire extended far beyond appearance-based jokes. ‘South Park’ included scenes depicting ICE agents conducting raids at a children's entertainment event, detaining families, and making explicit references to racial profiling. One scene shows ICE arresting a character modeled after Dora the Explorer at a family event, with Noem’s character instructing agents to “only detain the brown ones,” directly satirizing accusations of racially targeted immigration enforcement .

The episode’s approach has reignited debate about the boundaries of satire, especially regarding the representation of women and marginalized communities in media. Noem accused the show of perpetuating sexist tropes by focusing on her appearance, stating, “Only the liberals and the extremists do that.” At the same time, critics and media analysts argue that the episode’s real target was the administration’s immigration enforcement strategy, with particular emphasis on the impact those policies have on immigrant families and communities of color .

The episode also references Noem’s 2024 memoir and her controversial admission of euthanizing a poorly trained puppy, a subject that had previously drawn public criticism . By weaving together personal and political critiques, ‘South Park’ underscores the interconnectedness of public persona, policy, and accountability in the digital age.

The White House, in response to the episode, dismissed ‘South Park’ as “irrelevant,” with a spokesperson stating, “This show hasn’t been relevant for over 20 years and is hanging on by a thread with uninspired ideas in a desperate attempt for attention” . Nevertheless, the show’s viral social media exchanges with the Department of Homeland Security—such as a reposted teaser image with the caption “Wait, so we ARE relevant?”—demonstrate the enduring power of satire to provoke responses at the highest levels of government .