Springfield’s GOP mayor is ‘fine’ with Trump canceling his visit over migrant claims

The Republican mayor of Springfield has expressed that he would be “fine” with Donald Trump canceling his anticipated visit to the city. This statement comes in the wake of the former president promoting a baseless rumor that the community’s Haitian immigrants are allegedly eating local pets.

During a press conference at City Hall, Springfield Mayor Rob Rue emphasized that a visit from Trump could place an “extreme strain” on the city’s resources.

“So it’d be fine with me if they decided not to make that visit,” he said.

Trump, who is a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, is reportedly planning to come to the Ohio town “soon,” according to a source acquainted with his schedule who spoke to NBC News earlier this week.

Details surrounding the timing of Trump’s visit remain unclear. This prospect follows his recent comments during a debate against Vice President Kamala Harris on September 10, where he propagated a false claim that immigrants were “eating the dogs” of Springfield residents.

This unfounded conspiracy theory originated from a Facebook group created by local residents and gained traction after being endorsed by Trump’s running mate, JD Vance.

Local authorities have quickly debunked this rumor, but Trump has continued to propagate it regardless.

In the aftermath of these claims, Springfield has dealt with a troubling number of hoax bomb threats, totaling at least 33 incidents. These threats have forced local schools to shut down in response.

Mayor Rue told NBC News that on Tuesday morning, state troopers and bomb-sniffing dogs were dispatched to every school in Springfield to conduct thorough sweeps for explosives.

Rue expressed hope that the situation would eventually “quiet down.” He cautioned those in leadership positions, stressing the importance of words spoken on a national stage.

“If you have a national stage and you’re a national politician, please understand the words that you’re saying have great weight, and how they can negatively affect a community like Springfield, Ohio,” Rue remarked.

He added a call for support rather than division, stating, “We need help not hate. We need peace.”

The situation has gained wide attention, prompting inquiries from various news outlets seeking additional information from both the Trump campaign and Mayor Rue.

Trump’s forthcoming visit to Springfield follows a recent incident where he survived a second assassination attempt within two months. On Sunday, a suspect named Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, was arrested for allegedly aiming a rifle through a fence at Trump National Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, while Trump was on the golf course.