Peanut the Squirrel: How a Beloved Pet Became a Political Flashpoint in the 2024 Election

In a surprising turn of events, Peanut, a celebrity squirrel with over 750,000 Instagram followers, has become a central figure in the final days of the 2024 U.S. election. The squirrel, also known as P'Nut, was seized and euthanized by New York state conservation agents, sparking widespread outrage and political backlash.

The incident occurred on October 30 when the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation seized Peanut and a raccoon named Fred from their owners’ home in Pine City, New York. The animals were taken due to concerns about potential human exposure to rabies, and Peanut was subsequently euthanized for testing.

The Trump campaign quickly capitalized on the incident, using it as a symbol of government overreach. A post on the Trump campaign’s TikTok account, which garnered about 9 million views, condemned the euthanasia of Peanut and urged voters to “avenge” the squirrel’s death by electing Donald Trump. The post included an illustration of a ghostly squirrel with Trump and an American flag in the background.

Republican figures, including Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance, have also weighed in on the issue. Vance mentioned at a rally that Trump is “fired up” about the squirrel’s death, and the House Judiciary GOP posted “Justice for Peanut” on social media platforms.

Elon Musk, a significant donor to Trump’s campaign, also criticized the government’s actions, stating that it was unacceptable for the government to seize and execute pets. Musk’s comments were posted on X, formerly Twitter.

The backlash against New York state officials has been severe, with reports of bomb threats against facilities of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. Ten bomb threats were reported across the state, although none were deemed credible. The department allowed its workers to work from home due to the threats.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has condemned the threats of violence and expressed gratitude to the New York State Police for their investigation and support of the state workforce. However, she has not publicly addressed the specifics of Peanut’s death.