Donald Trump and JD Vance Outraged Over Euthanization of Beloved Squirrel P’nut, Sparking Calls for Animal Rights Legislation

Former President Donald Trump has joined the outcry over the euthanisation of P’nut the Squirrel, a beloved internet sensation, following his death last week at the hands of New York state officials.

At a campaign rally in Sanford, North Carolina, Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, shared Trump’s fiery reaction to the incident, stating, “I know Don’s fired up about P’nut the Squirrel.” Vance recounted Trump’s disbelief, saying, “He was like, ‘You know, is it the case that the Democrats murdered the Elon Musk of squirrels?’”

P’nut the Squirrel was seized and euthanized last week by New York state officials over rabies fears. AP

P’nut, a 7-year-old grey squirrel known for his engaging social media presence, had been living at P’nut’s Freedom Farm, a 350-acre animal refuge in upstate New York run by Mark and Daniela Longo.

The squirrel and his companion, a raccoon named Fred, were taken by the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) following anonymous complaints regarding rabies fears. Despite being described as docile, P’nut reportedly bit one of the investigators during the confiscation.

Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance revealed Sunday that Donald Trump was “fired up” after the furry internet sensation was euthanized by New York state officials last week. AP

On Friday, DEC officials announced that both P’nut and Fred had been euthanised, sparking outrage from the local community and lawmakers. Vance criticised the government’s priorities, stating, “The same government that doesn’t care about hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrant criminals coming into our country doesn’t want us to have pets. It’s the craziest thing.”

The backlash over P’nut’s death has been significant, leading to the proposal of new legislation aimed at enhancing animal rights protections. State lawmakers introduced “Peanut’s Law: Humane Animal Protection Act” in response to the incident.

Additionally, a GoFundMe campaign for P’nut has received an overwhelming response, raising over $158,000 in donations from fans and supporters in just a few days. The emotional impact of P’nut’s story continues to resonate, highlighting the public’s passion for animal welfare.