why the euthanasia of Peanut, the Instagram star squirrel, is becoming a campaign argument for Trumpists

The little animal, which became an Instagram celebrity, was euthanized by New York health authorities. Proof for Republicans that Democrats want to attack Americans' freedoms.

Can the US election be upset by a squirrel? Named Peanut, the little black squirrel was taken in six years ago by Mark Longo. The man, who founded a shelter and took in nearly 300 animals, posted videos on social networks where Peanut could be seen wearing a cowboy hat or munching waffles on his shoulder. The Instagram account was followed by hundreds of thousands of people.

But New York State health authorities were alerted by “numerous reports” on certain animals in the shelter. They go to Mark Longo’s house on Wednesday October 30. They seize Peanut and the animal is euthanized due to a suspected risk of transmitting rabies knowing that it is illegal to possess wild animals without authorization.

The animal's owner expressed his immense sadness following this decision. “This squirrel has brought so much joy to us and to the whole world”he declares, with tears in his eyes.

The story does not end there, Peanut has become a campaign argument for Donald Trump's camp. They set up the little squirrel as a sort of martyr for Democratic politics. Democrats who are in power precisely in the State of New York. For Republicans, this affair is the symbol of an attack on individual freedom, an eminently important value in the United States.

An illustration, for the American right, of an overly intrusive government that can enter your home and go so far as to take away your own pet. A recovery in the home stretch, a few hours before the end of the vote, and Elon Musk is on the front line. The boss of Space X obviously plays on emotion and indignation. “The government” exceeded his rights and kidnapped an orphaned squirrel before executing him. In the process, Republicans point the finger at Democrats “murderers” or “assassins”.

Trump's running mate JD Vance was quick to assert that Democrats were paying more attention to “hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants” rather than pets. Donald Trump who already accused migrants of eating animals in Ohio two months ago. “In Springfield, they eat dogs, the people who come [des migrants]they eat cats. They eat residents' pets. This is what is happening in our country.”declared the former president of the United States.

For his part, Mark Longo always posts several messages on Instagram. He asks his subscribers to make donations for his shelter and his legal fight.