Fake Trump statement on “Peanut The Squirrel” sends social media into disarray

Social media went into a frenzy on Saturday morning when an apparent press release from Donald TrumpThe campaign demanded justice for Peanut the squirrel … but it was all a hoax, TMZ has learned.

Trump spokesman Steven Cheung tells us that a statement that went viral on

The fake press release quoted Trump as saying, among other things, “If Peanut could have told them he was from Mexico, they would have sent him away and given him a hotel room and a $500 Buddy Squirrel gift card.” Instead, he was taken away from his family. Very sad and a complete waste of resources!”

Amid the noise, a wave of AI-generated Trump and Peanut artwork began to take over X… similar to when the pet eating controversy peaked in September.

TMZ previously spoke with the owners of a pet squirrel that has a huge following on social media … who are attacking government officials in New York with nuclear strikes … and accusing the state of abusing power and wasting taxpayer money to seize and sell Peanut kill, and all because of some anonymous claims.

Mark Longo and his wife, Daniella, told us on “TMZ Live” Friday that they won't rest until something is done about the injustice.

Although it's technically illegal to keep a squirrel as a pet in New York, Mark says he hasn't hidden Peanut – the squirrel has 532,000 followers on IG and over 1,400 posts – and he says anonymous complaints about Peanut have been made to state authorities led to obtaining a search warrant to tear the animal from its home and kill it.

Mark says Peanut has been the cornerstone of his family and his non-profit animal rescue, P'Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary… and he doesn't know how he'll move on without his squirrel friend.