An anti-Donald Trump website was misled by a fabricated statement supposedly from the former president, expressing grief over the death of Peanut, an internet-famous squirrel. However, sources close to the Republican nominee confirmed that this inflammatory statement was fake.
The liberal news site Mediaite published an article, now deleted, based on what appeared to be an official press release from Trump’s campaign. This post, which first surfaced on X by user Gentry Genvers, was later clarified as a hoax. Karoline Leavitt, a member of Trump’s team, explained to The Post that it was indeed a “fake statement” and confirmed that Trump “didn’t actually say that,” referring to the post describing Peanut—who had been euthanised after being seized from his upstate New York owners—as “innocent on all accounts” and likening the squirrel to a migrant. Leavitt further dismissed Mediaite as “fake news.”
Following the incident, Mediaite issued a correction acknowledging that it had “erroneously reported on a fake statement attributed to Donald Trump,” confirming that neither Trump nor his campaign had commented on the story in question, nor released any statements related to it. The article was subsequently removed, though Mediaite did not respond to The Post’s request for comment on the oversight.
The initial post from Gevers was intended as a response to Elon Musk’s post about Trump, suggesting that “as president, Trump will save the squirrels.” In the fabricated response, Trump appeared to lament that Peanut and Fred the Raccoon had been seized and “executed by the State of New York” due to “their terrible governor,” Democrat Kathy Hochul. The post suggested that if Peanut had claimed he was “from Mexico,” he would have been “sent on his way” with “a hotel room and a gift card.”
At 78, Trump remains a vocal advocate of strict immigration policies, frequently attributing violent crime in the US to the arrival of new migrants. Peanut, a seven-year-old grey squirrel with a devoted online following, had become an internet sensation. Alongside Fred the Raccoon, he was euthanised to allow the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to test them for rabies. The DEC stated that Peanut, usually docile, had bitten an investigator on the hand when seized from Mark Longo’s Elmira residence. Investigators reportedly visited Longo’s home following anonymous complaints about wild animals being kept indoors.
Longo paid tribute to Peanut in an emotional online video, recalling the deep bond he had with the squirrel and sharing heartfelt gratitude for the joy Peanut brought into his life. Longo, who had saved Peanut after witnessing the animal’s mother being killed by a car, expressed remorse, writing in a post that Peanut was “the best thing that ever happened to us” and that he was “sorry to have failed” him. The pair’s connection ultimately inspired Longo to move to upstate New York, where he established “P’Nut’s Freedom Farm,” an animal sanctuary and rescue initiative.