“South Park” co-creator Trey Parker says President Donald Trump believes his job is “to be the joker,” a remark Parker makes alongside fellow co-creator Matt Stone. The comments come in a short video appearance connected to the Television Academy Honors, which aired May 20. In the segment, Parker and Stone discuss how their approach to comedy has changed since the show debuted in 1998, and how they position the series’ satire in relation to current events. They also explain why Trump appears as a main character in the latest season of the animated series. The outlets report that Parker frames Trump’s view of his own role through the “joker” characterization, while Stone and Parker collectively discuss the broader idea of the establishment shifting over time and the way political figures are treated within their work. The reports focus on the creators’ explanations for their portrayal of Trump and do not indicate that the comment reflects an official statement from the White House or Trump’s team.