Anti-Trump Website Falls for Fake Story

In an unfortunate example of hasty reporting, the liberal news site Mediaite mistakenly published an article attributing a mock statement to former President Donald Trump, claiming he had issued a fiery comment on the death of internet-famous squirrel Peanut.

The piece, quickly retracted, highlights the media’s rush to cover anything potentially damaging to Trump — even when the story is too bizarre to be true.

The satirical “statement” appeared on X (formerly Twitter), posted by user Gentry Genvers, and portrayed Trump as angrily lamenting the fate of Peanut, who was euthanized in New York after a dispute with wildlife officials.

Despite its obviously tongue-in-cheek nature, Mediaite ran with the story, much to the chagrin of Trump’s team. Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign, confirmed the absurdity, calling the article “fake news” and emphasizing that Trump never issued any such statement.

The incident prompted Mediaite to delete the article and issue a correction, saying they had “erroneously reported on a fake statement attributed to Donald Trump.” The original piece was quickly scrubbed from their platform, but not before generating considerable online chatter. The mishap serves as a reminder of how quickly misinformation can spread in today’s media environment — and how a desire for sensational content can sometimes lead to journalistic lapses.

The faux statement, which circulated widely on social media, painted a satirical image of Trump bemoaning the death of Peanut and Fred the Raccoon, both of whom were euthanized by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation after being removed from their owner, Mark Longo, in Elmira.

The fabricated statement humorously compared Peanut’s plight to that of immigrants and attributed his death to New York’s Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul.

This mock scenario followed a real tweet from Elon Musk, who joked that, as president, Trump would “save the squirrels.” It spiraled into a parody commentary on issues like illegal immigration and state policies, with the statement suggesting Peanut might have survived had he “told them he was from Mexico,” taking a jab at perceived preferential treatment for non-citizens.

Peanut, who was rescued by Longo as a baby squirrel, had become a beloved pet and amassed a significant social media following. His sudden death, ordered for rabies testing after reports of wild animals in Longo’s home, sparked an outpouring of grief online, with Longo posting a tearful tribute to his longtime companion.

Peanut’s death was especially heartbreaking given Longo’s devotion — he had even relocated to upstate New York to create “P’Nut’s Freedom Farm,” a rescue sanctuary for animals like Peanut.

This incident serves as a cautionary tale for all media outlets: in the rush to publish, diligence and accuracy are paramount. In a time when the media is closely scrutinized for bias, moments like this are a reminder that careful reporting matters, especially on issues surrounding polarizing figures like Trump.