AP Photo/Morry Gash (L)/Courtesy Mark Longo via AP (R)
Correction: Mediaite erroneously reported on a fake image of a statement attributed to Donald Trump, which the campaign has since confirmed was not real. Trump did not comment on the story in question nor did he or his campaign release any statements on it. We regret the post, and have removed it from our platforms. The post below has been updated to reflect the situation. – Ed.
A satirical statement in a graphic meant to make it appear as if it came from former President Donald Trump went viral on Saturday, depicting Trump railing against New York officials for euthanizing Peanut the Squirrel, a rescued squirrel who had become a social media sensation on Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms. The fake image getting so much attention it even made TMZ.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) confirmed this week that two animals had been euthanized after their owner, Mark Longo, revealed they had been seized. Along with Peanut the Squirrel, Fred the Raccoon was also taken into custody during a raid and later euthanized.
“I was treated as if I was a drug dealer and they were going for drugs and guns,” Longo told the Associated Press after his home was raided.
The agency said they raided the home after receiving “multiple reports from the public about the potentially unsafe housing of wildlife that could carry rabies and the illegal keeping of wildlife as pets.”
A statement attributed to Trump and his campaign went ultra viral on X, spawning jokes and commentary including from pundits like Megyn Kelly and others EJP plenty of humor in the statement.
One line in particular caught fire: “If Peanut could have told them he was from Mexico, they would have sent him on his way and given him a hotel room and a $500 gift card to Buddy Squirrel. Instead, he was taken from his family.”
Here’s the text of the satirical statement in the image:
There have been horrible reports out of New York, my former home state, where state environmental agents raided the home of Mark Longo and his wife. Mark was taken into custody for hours while officials searched his home and eventually took two of their pets, Fred the Raccoon and Peanut the Squirrel. These animals were later executed by the state of New York.
New York authorities, under their terrible Governor, put more effort in finding an eliminating a squirrel, who was innocent by all accounts, than they do to control the unchecked illegal immigrants who have flooded their state. If Peanut could have told them he was from Mexico, they would have sent him on his way and given him a hotel room and a $500 gift card to Buddy Squirrel. Instead, he was taken from his family. Very sad, and a complete waste of resources! When we win, we will get our priorities in order and MAGA!
In a post to Instagram, Longo blamed his animals being taken away on the “selfishness” of the internet.
View this post on Instagram
“Well internet, you WON. You took one of the most amazing animals away from me because of your selfishness. To the group of people who called DEC, there’s a special place in hell for you,” he wrote.
