Greitens, a former Navy SEAL, opens the ad by saying he’s “going RINO hunting.” “RINO” is short for “Republican in name only,” a phrase hard-right Republicans sometimes use for those they deem insufficiently conservative.
“I’m Eric Greitens, Navy SEAL. And today, we’re going RINO hunting,” Greitens says in the ad, readying his gun.
“The RINO feeds on corruption and is marked by the stripes of cowardice,” the candidate continues, as the footage shows him and the men in combat gear enter the front door of a house by force, guns at the ready.
“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,” Greitens concludes.
The ad was paid for by Greitens’ campaign.
Meta, formerly Facebook, took down the ad, while Twitter kept it up, slapping a warning label on it.
“This tweet violated the Twitter rules about abusive behavior,” the Twitter label reads. “However, Twitter has determined that it may be in the public’s interest for the tweet to remain accessible.”
— Kathryn Watson in Missouri Senate GOP Hopeful Eric Greitens Hunts Political Opponents With Guns in Ad
