'Heartless and mindless': Elon Musk's criticism over euthanising the squirrel 'Peanut'

Elon Musk has publicly criticized the Biden administration, calling it a “mindless and heartless killing machine” following the euthanasia of Peanut, an internet-famous squirrel. Peanut, who was confiscated by New York state officials, gained a devoted following through his endearing antics and viral videos on social media, particularly on Instagram, where he was showcased by his owner, Mark Longo.

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In a post on X, Musk lamented the loss of Peanut, writing, “President Donald Trump will save the squirrels,” accompanied by a crying face emoji and the message “RIP P'Nut.” He shared a poignant image of Peanut perched on Longo's back, emphasizing his affection for the beloved pet.

“If you strike me down, I will become more powerful than you could possibly imagine” Obi PNut Kenobi pic.twitter.com/dD2Xo0fSkr

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk)

“If you strike me down, I will become more powerful than you could possibly imagine” Obi PNut Kenobi pic.twitter.com/dD2Xo0fSkr

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 2, 2024

">November 2, 2024

Peanut’s tragic fate unfolded after a government worker was bitten by the squirrel, prompting the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Chemung County Health Department to euthanize him and a raccoon found in Longo's care for rabies testing. The DEC stated that both animals were illegally possessed, and the action was taken due to potential rabies exposure risk.

In a follow-up tweet, Musk posted an AI-generated image of Peanut as Obi-Wan Kenobi, holding a lightsaber, along with the phrase, “If you strike me down, I will become more powerful than you could possibly imagine,” dubbing him “Obi PNut Kenobi.”