They've ruthlessly pilloried both left and right over the years, and even savaged Donald Trump's run for president with a series of episodes that culminated in him being murdered.

So many people may be surprised by reports South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have nailed their political colors to the mast and come out as Republicans.

Radio host Larry Elder said the comedy duo announced their political persuasion while he was presenting them with a 'freedom' award from Norman Lear's left-wing campaign group, the People for the American Way Foundation.

Radio host Larry Elder said the comedy duo announced their political persuasion while he was presenting them with a 'freedom' award from Norman Lear's left-wing campaign group, the People for the American Way Foundation

Elder said the pair 'graciously accepted' their award before breaking into nervous laughter and saying, 'We're Republicans'

Elder tweeted: 'Trey Parker & Matt Stone of @SouthPark asked me to introduce them when they received a "freedom" award from Norman Lear's organization.

'After they graciously accepted, they said, "We're republicans." Nervous laughter. They repeated, "No, seriously, we're republicans."#Priceless.'

The group describes itself as a 'progressive advocacy organization' that exists to fight Right-wing extremism.

The revelation comes some two years after Parker and Stone screened a vicious attack on Trump which skirted the borders of decency and taste and arguably crossed them.

The revelation that South Park's writers are Republicans may surprise anyone who tuned into this 2015 episode which brutally attacked Donald Trump and his policies before the election

The episode, called 'Where My Country Gone', included a shocking finale showing Trump being raped and murdered

In an almost unprecedented attack on a running presidential candidate, the adult cartoon lampooned the Republican and in a shocking finale, showed the billionaire businessman being brutally raped and murdered.

The inflammatory episode of the satirical cartoon was supposed to attack Trump's immigration policies and mocked his oft-repeated promise to build a wall between the US and Mexico.

The episode, called 'Where My Country Gone', was screened in September 2015, and showed Trump becoming the President of Canada, causing all of the Canadians to flee across the border into America.