'Turkey Trot': South Park Thanksgiving episode takes aim at Saudi Arabia, PIF

Saudi Arabia's US investments are the subject of South Park's latest episode in the hit potty-mouthed cartoon's latest politically charged season.

The episode sees Saudis sponsor the town's Turkey Trot in the show's first Thanksgiving special since 2013.

In the episode, titled 'Turkey Trot', a cash-strapped South Park turns to Saudi Arabia to fund the festive race, since "they're giving money to everyone else".

The move causes controversy in the town due to the country's poor human rights record. Some South Park residents, including Eric Cartman, support the Gulf state's reforms, which include allowing women to drive and, recently, expanding alcohol access. Cartman tries to convince his classmate Tolkein Black to join the race, but Tolkein refuses, saying "it just doesn't feel right".

Cartman responds by arguing that Saudi Arabia's investments in US businesses are a sign that the country has moved on from "haking up reporters and inviting Pete Davidson to come do comedy", referencing both the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and the recent Riyadh Comedy Festival.

The episode comes after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's (MbS) recent Oval Office meeting with US President Donald Trump, the Prince's first official visit to the United States since Khashoggi's murder. The meeting saw Trump and MbS discuss AI, nuclear cooperation, and the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia.

The meeting was timely, as Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) has been expanding its investments in the United States. This includes a recent purchase of gaming giant EA, a joint investment with Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners. US media rumours also say the PIF is mounting a bid for the film studio Warner Bros. Early rumours said that Paramount Skydance, which owns South Park airer Paramount+, could join the bid. Still, a representative for the entertainment conglomerate downplayed this.

The recent South Park episode is the latest in the show's hit 28th season, which has mercilessly parodied US political figures, including Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and, of course, Donald Trump, all of whom made an appearance in 'Turkey Trot'.

It's not the first time the cartoon has dipped its toes into Middle Eastern politics, with Saddam Hussein and Benjamin Netanyahu both appearing on South Park's long list of public figures parodied.

South Park episode 'Turkey Trot' will air on Comedy Central at 10 pm tonight in the UK. It is currently available on Paramount+ in the US.