In a Thanksgiving-themed episode that aired Wednesday, the animated series South Park delivered a scathing satire of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, using a musical parody of Kenny Loggins' 1986 hit Danger Zone to critique military propaganda and social media obsession.
Military Misadventures in South Park
The episode depicted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth demanding the release of tech billionaire Peter Thiel from local jail, only to be forcefully rejected. The animated version of Hegseth then launched into a rant against what he called a woke liberal town that is actually defying our government in an over-the-top video for the Department of War.
In one of the episode's most memorable lines, the character declared: I'm here to kick bubblegum and chew ass and I'm all out of ass! Despite former President Trump urging him not to create social media content in South Park, the fictional Hegseth defied orders by using military resources for what he described as taking down an Antifa uprising.
The Turkey Trot Takedown
The reality of the situation proved far different from Hegseth's claims. The town's residents were actually participating in the annual Turkey Trot, which the episode revealed was now sponsored by Saudi Arabia. The military intervention escalated dramatically when Hegseth and his forces tear-gassed the runners.
The defense secretary then made a dramatic entrance, dropping down to the streets via helicopter as the Danger Zone parody began playing. The musical number opened with the blunt lyrics: Pete Hegseth is a fucking douche! Pete Hegseth is a fucking douche!
Real-Life Parallels and Musical Controversy
The episode included several pointed references to real-world events. The use of the Top Gun tune mirrored how Trump had previously used the same song in an AI-generated social media post, much to Kenny Loggins' displeasure.
As the parody song continued, the animated Hegseth was shown physically assaulting Turkey Trot participants while documenting the violence with a selfie stick. The lyrics mocked his behavior: Acting like a tough guy, posting it around the world. Making lots of content, like a little teenage girl.
The episode concluded with Hegseth detaining numerous runners under false pretenses, completing a biting commentary on the intersection of military power, social media culture, and political propaganda.
