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No, Donald Trump didn't say this about Peanut the squirrel
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Peanut, an internet famous squirrel, was put down after New York state officials said it bit someone.
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A viral statement attributed to former President Donald Trump is fake. We found no evidence of the statement on Trump’s website or social media accounts.
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A Trump campaign spokesperson told the New York Post the statement is fake.
New York state officials seized and euthanized an internet famous squirrel, Peanut, and a racoon named Fred. The incident sparked an online uproar that included a familiar topic: 2024 election misinformation.
"Well, Peanut found his way into the presidential election," a Nov. 2 Facebook post said, featuring a statement attributed to former President Donald Trump on what looks like a campaign press release.
"New York authorities, under their terrible Governor, put more effort into finding an eliminating a squirrel, who was innocent by all accounts, than they do to control the unchecked illegal immigrants who have flooded into their state," the statement said.
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The Facebook post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook, Threads and Instagram.)
Peanut the squirrel and Fred were both seized by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation from their owner Mark Longo. Longo had cared for the squirrel for seven years. An Instagram account dedicated to Peanut the squirrel has more than 700,000 followers. Officials said the two animals were put down to test for rabies after Peanut bit a person involved in the investigation.
Our Sources
Facebook post (archived link), Nov. 2, 2024
Agence France Presse, Squirrel kerfuffle: Trump's comment on Peanut is fake news, Nov. 2, 2024
USA Today, Is it legal to have a pet squirrel? Beloved Peanut the squirrel euthanized in New York, Nov. 2, 2024
USA Today, Social media star Peanut the Squirrel has been euthanized after being seized from NY home, Nov. 1, 2024
The Associated Press, The man who took in orphaned Peanut the squirrel says it’s ‘surreal’ officials euthanized his pet, Nov. 2, 2024
The New York Post, Anti-Trump website falls for fake statement about Peanut the Squirrel’s death, Nov. 2, 2024
BBC News, Trump 'fired up' about euthanasia of Peanut the squirrel, Nov. 3, 2024
The Independent, Why is Elon Musk obsessed with a euthanized pet squirrel?, Nov. 4, 2024
Mediate, Fake Trump Statement on Euthanized Squirrel Goes Viral (Correction), Nov. 2, 2024
Washington Examiner, Trump statement on Peanut the squirrel confirmed fake as it swirls online, Nov. 3, 2024
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No, Donald Trump didn't say this about Peanut the squirrel
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