Group glues MAGA hats on pigeons as protest ahead of Nevada debate

A group has released a number of pigeons with MAGA hats glued to their heads in downtown Las Vegas ahead of the Democratic debate and President Trump’s visit to the city Wednesday.

An apparently satirical press release from the group Pigeons United To Interfere Now (PUTIN) claimed that the move was “inspired by the 1970’s Cold War Operation, ‘Tacana’, in which the CIA explored the use of pigeons equipped with tiny cameras to spy on Soviet sites of interest.”

“The project was the result of months of exhaustive research, logistical hurdles and pigeon care taking,” read the statement.

“The release date was also coordinated to serve as a gesture of support and loyalty to President Trump, who is scheduled to arrive in Las Vegas just ahead of the Democratic Debates, for a speech scheduled at The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department headquarters,” it continued.

The group’s members remained anonymous but told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the demonstration was carried out using eyelash glue, meaning the hats will naturally fall off within a couple of days. One local animal rescue group told The Associated Press that at least one pigeon wearing a hat had later been found dead.

“It’s what women use to put around their eyes for eyelash extensions. The hats usually stay on for a day or two, depending on the bird’s movements,” a group member identifying themself as “Coo Hand Luke” told the Review-Journal. “We can also remove them ourselves as they fly back to the coop. They could be gone for a day, two days or a week, but they always come back.”