VERIFYING former President Donald Trump's claims about immigrants in Springfield, Ohio

Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday amplified false rumors that Haitian immigrants in Ohio were abducting and eating pets, repeating during a televised debate the type of inflammatory and anti-immigrant rhetoric he has promoted throughout his campaigns.

There is no evidence that Haitian immigrants in an Ohio community are doing that, officials say. But during the debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump specifically mentioned Springfield, Ohio, the town at the center of the claims, saying that immigrants were taking over the city.

"They're eating the dogs. They're eating the cats. They're eating the pets of the people that live there," he said.

Harris called Trump "extreme" and laughed after his comment. Debate moderators pointed out that city officials have said the claims are not true.

Trump's comments echoed claims made by his campaign, including his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, and other Republicans. The claims attracted attention this week when Vance posted on social media that his office has "received many inquiries" about Haitian migrants abducting pets. Vance acknowledged Tuesday it was possible "all of these rumors will turn out to be false."


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[hollynoelleAbductedUfologist]

Haitians in Haiti eat cats. Why wouldn't they eat them here???

[heatherpoff]

If there was not a problem the governor would not need to be sending Springfield money to deal with what he referred to as the problem himself nor would the governor need to tell the Sheriffs department to assist with the traffic issues! I find if funny that our Verify teams can’t find any way to verify these claims yet I who happen to just be a concerned citizen have found several videos of other concerned citizens from Springfield going to their city council letting them know of this issue! Come people let’s take a good look at our new outlets and see who is running them! They are not giving use ALL THE FACT ONLY THE FACT THAT FAVOR ONE CANDIDATE, and that candidate has had 3.5 years to work with our current no go paper weight of a President! Wake up America!!!

[goody]

You asked the city manager? That's like asking the restaurant manager if the food is any good.

[katzeyez]

There's far too many citizens that reside there in Springfield who have witnessed and lived what's going on there. Immigrants got bused in to cities like that hoping for more votes out of certain states

[michaelgarcia]

IGNORE THE CITIZENS WHO SEE THEM. TRUST THE City LEADERS NOT THE CITIZENS

[Wanderer_Rogue]

Notice how as soon as Trump and Vance mention it, it gets called lies? 🤔

[AzureKite-rtuk]

I live in Springfield. It's true Missing animals have gone up tremendously. They have been spotted killing geese and ducks in the park. Found butchered cats and geese in a few basements and also a woman was found eating a cat raw last week after stomping it's head. There's video of that. If you're curious the reason. Government property owners are renting to Hattians for 200 or so a person then stuffing the house full of in some cases 20 or more.

[jennaeveritt]

They need to talk to the citizens of Ohio..all they do is gaslight.

[huntergatherer]

There are hundreds of videos on YouTube alone of first hand reports.

[aaronhannah]

I'm from west Columbus it is happening.

[rlaporte]

omg...
You guys are so biased against the truth it's almost sickening.
Talk to the ppl that witnessed this happening.
But instead you're going to believe what the counsel said?
Do your job...god!!!

[bryanincognito]

They will say there is no credible evidence until they have video proof of someone stealing a pet out of a yard and butchering that pet. Without video evidence, the city officials will ignore and deny whatever the residents say.

[michaeldominguez]

There's video proof. One woman was detained in the middle of the street eating a cat.

[RepinsTsohg]

So wait, let me get this right, there's no evidence. According to you. And your proof of that is that one politician said that that was happening from reports I got and other politician said that they have not got any reports. So no proof either way you just decide to choose who to believe and claim it as fact.

[afterglow-podcast]

I live in Ohio. Literally yesterday morning at work someone shower a video of a duck being taken and killed by a Haitian. Than that night it's covered on the debate.

[steamedsoup]

“The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”

-Sir George Orwell (1984)

[cheese-qwvd]

Yup, believe the media...funny how they fact check what they want.

[kphillips]

A guy was just talking at their city hall in Springfield Ohio? So he was lying. We need to find out who that guy was talking at the city hall

[KeysIdaho]

How can a community of 59, 000 (in 2020) take on 15, 000 Haitians since 2020!!!!. That place must be a DISASTER area!

[katzeyez]

How can the city officials say this? Maybe they don't have cut evidence but they've got endless complaints about it