Raccoon that ‘attacked’ news crews on White House lawn sparks viral jokes

White House reporters are used to getting attacked as “fake news” these days, but on Monday several were reportedly “attacked” in a whole new way: by an angry raccoon. 

In an incident that sparked viral jokes on Twitter, CBS’s Paula Reid said a raccoon on the White House lawn had “attacked multiple news crews.”

“Strong Pawnee vibes at White House this morning as a raccoon attacked multiple news crews on North Lawn. allegedly grabbed pant leg of a photographer & then a corespondent before being fended off,” she tweeted, referring to the fictional town of Pawnee, Ind. from the sitcom “Parks and Recreation,” where raccoons are a frequent nuisance. 

Strong Pawnee vibes at White House this morning as a raccoon attacked multiple news crews on North Lawn. allegedly grabbed pant leg of a photographer & then a corespondent before being fended off. (WH pictured here in more peaceful times.) pic.twitter.com/o5VbTUHxBR

— Paula Reid (@PaulaReidCBS) September 28, 2020

UPDATE: Sources tell @CBSNews White House reaching out to @USGSA about aggressive who allegedly attacked crews this AM. #MondayMorning

— Paula Reid (@PaulaReidCBS) September 28, 2020

The tweet immediately sparked jokes online at the expense of both reporters and the president. White House communications director Alyssa Farah even joined in, joking that the raccoons should be added to the rotation of reporters who join the press pool that travels with the president.

Starting a petition to add the WH raccoons to the pool rotation. CC: @PressSec https://t.co/TyBCHY0uWO

— Alyssa Farah (@Alyssafarah) September 28, 2020

…………I don’t even know what to say anymore https://t.co/vumFscEMTB

— out of context parks and rec (@nocontextpawnee) September 28, 2020

The raccoons are mad they pay more in taxes than Trump https://t.co/qJediV0lQA

— George Conway (@gtconway3d) September 28, 2020

THESE RACCOON LOOK INNOCENT TO ME PAULA

JUST A ROUTINE SNACK INSPECTION NOTHING TO SEE HERE

CASE CLOSE https://t.co/IWppL1pZbA

— darth™ (@darth) September 28, 2020

We need a distraction!

We’ve used up all of our distractions.

[low, ominous] Release the raccoons. https://t.co/Mwdf3tJVeq

— Schooley (@Rschooley) September 28, 2020

The Hill has reached out to the National Park Service and the General Services Administration for comment on the raccoon incident. The raccoons could not be reached for comment.

No evidence has emerged to suggest the raccoons were politically motivated.