Republican primary U.S. Senate candidate for Missouri Eric Greitens released an ad on Monday showing the former Navy SEAL carrying a weapon and leading a group of armed soldiers saying he is hunting RINOs (Republicans in name only.)
The video has gone viral since it was posted at 8:30 a.m. CDT with well over one million views on Twitter.
The Greitens campaign is encouraging supporters to become ‘RINO hunters.’ Facebook reportedly took down the ad. UPDATE: Twitter has chosen to leave the ad up but with a discalimer and limitations on sharing and commenting.
“I’m Eric Greitens, Navy SEAL, and today we’re going RINO hunting. The RINO feeds on corruption and is marked by the stripes of cowardice. (Flash bang grenades explode as military team and Greitens enters home.) Join the MAGA crew. Get a RINO hunting permit. There’s no bagging limit, no tagging limit and it doesn’t expire until we save our country.”
https://twitter.com/EricGreitens/status/1538876823978713089
The Greitens campaign is offering RINO Hunting Permit stickers for donations.
Greitens responded to criticism from Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) who commented, “Let’s place the blame for this violent ad where it belongs, at the doorsteps of Kevin McCarthy & Mitch McConnell. They’ve failed to confront & condemn the MAGA radicals of their party. Now it’s out of control & threatens everyone’s freedom.” Greitens mockingly replied, “Did Fang Fang write this?”
https://twitter.com/EricGreitens/status/1538903337692700673
Greitens also celebrated the Washington Post reporting on his ad, “Thank you to @washingtonpost for hosting our video on their website!
Everybody can visit the link below to see our new ad!”
Thank you to @washingtonpost for hosting our video on their website!
Everybody can visit the link below to see our new ad!https://t.co/lQ4zRatxP7
— Eric Greitens (@EricGreitens) June 20, 2022
Democrat front group VoteVets called out Greitens for allegedly violating military rules with the ad.
Eric Greitens a member of the Navy Reserves has violated DOD policy by identifying himself as a “SEAL” and using military uniforms without a disclaimer.
Contact the Naval Inspector General Hotline at [email protected] or (800)522-3451 and report this abuse. https://t.co/hSZB6VIqLa
— VoteVets (@votevets) June 20, 2022
VoteVets is one of many calling on federal law enforcement agencies to investigate Greitens over the ad.
Heads up @FBI @SecretService, @EricGreitens is using insinuated U.S. troops to suggest hunting fellow Americans. pic.twitter.com/kYuZT49K2b
— VoteVets (@votevets) June 20, 2022
CNN’s Donie O’Sullivan reported Facebook took down the ad, “Facebook has removed the Eric Greitens video: Meta spokesperson: “We removed this video for violating our policies prohibiting violence and incitement.””
Facebook has removed the Eric Greitens video:
Meta spokesperson: "We removed this video for violating our policies prohibiting violence and incitement."
— Donie O'Sullivan (@donie) June 20, 2022