The recent euthanization of a social media-famous squirrel named P'Nut by New York wildlife authorities has sparked intense backlash from prominent MAGA Republicans, who claim it reflects excessive government control.
P'Nut's owner, 34-year-old Mark Longo, was devastated after New York state officials seized and euthanized both P'Nut and a raccoon named Fred, which Longo had rescued. Officials arrived at Longo’s home in Pine City, New York, after receiving an anonymous complaint about the animals’ living conditions.
The two animals were well-known online, featured on Longo’s Instagram account @peanut_the_squirrel12, which has 692,000 followers. Longo had cared for P'Nut for seven years after rescuing him as a baby when his mother was killed by a car in New York City. The Instagram page includes videos of the squirrel performing tricks, capturing the hearts of fans nationwide.
According to a statement from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Chemung County Department of Health, the animals were euthanized on October 30 to test for rabies. Officials stated, “DEC seized a raccoon and squirrel sharing a residence with humans, creating potential exposure to rabies. In addition, a person involved with the investigation was bitten by the squirrel. Anyone in contact with these animals is encouraged to consult their physician.” They emphasized that the euthanization was necessary to protect public health.
On Sunday, Ohio Senator JD Vance, former President Donald Trump’s running mate, referenced P'Nut's death at a rally in Sanford, North Carolina, claiming Trump was “fired up” about the incident. Vance quoted Trump saying, "Is it really the case that the Democrats murdered the Elon Musk of squirrels?"
Elon Musk, who recently endorsed Trump, expressed his outrage on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “Vote for P'Nut! For Liberty! For Freedom!” and garnering over 33 million views. Musk also tweeted, “The government should not be allowed to barge into your house and kill your pet! … Why kill P'Nut instead of simply releasing him into the forest?”
At a Trump rally in Macon, Georgia, MAGA Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Mike Collins also weighed in, calling the incident an example of government overreach and a reflection of the Democratic Party's alleged authoritarianism. "This has gotten so bad that they're killing the pets, they're killing the squirrels, they're killing the raccoons," Collins remarked. Greene pointed out what she described as a double standard in pest control and immigration, comparing P'Nut’s case with an unrelated crime involving an undocumented immigrant.
Longo, who described the seizure as “a shocking raid,” has since launched a GoFundMe page to support his animal sanctuary, P'Nut’s Freedom Farm. The fundraiser, which had raised $162,980 from nearly 4,000 donors by Monday, states, “In memory of Peanut and Fred, we aim to shine a light on P'Nut’s Freedom Farm’s mission to rescue and care for vulnerable animals. Their lives were a testament to compassion, and we are committed to continuing this vital work in their honor.”
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