Trump spreads false claim about Haitian migrants stealing pets for food

During a recent presidential debate, former President Donald Trump reiterated his unfounded claim that migrants from Haiti are involved in stealing and consuming pets in Springfield, Ohio.

Trump stated, “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs. The people that came in, they’re eating the cats, they’re eating the pets of the people that live there.”

This baseless narrative has gained traction online, particularly among right-wing politicians, such as vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance. It has proliferated through a series of viral social media posts alleging that Haitian migrants are abducting pets for food.

However, a spokesperson for the city of Springfield has firmly rejected these claims, stating there have been “no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured, or abused by individuals in the immigrant community.”

The spokesperson further clarified that there have been no verified instances of immigrants participating in illegal actions like squatting or littering near residents’ homes. No reports have also been made regarding disruptions in traffic caused by the immigrant community.

According to the Springfield News-Sun, the Springfield Police Department has not received any reports indicating that pets have been stolen or consumed. In fact, the city has launched a webpage dedicated to debunking these allegations.

Migrants have been drawn to Springfield due to its affordable living costs and available job opportunities. City estimates suggest that there are approximately 12,000 to 15,000 immigrants residing in the county. This rapid population increase has placed pressures on local housing, healthcare, and educational resources. Nonetheless, the city notes that most of these migrants are legal residents, with many holding Temporary Protected Status from the federal government.

The false narrative claiming immigrants are targeting pets originated from a social media post in a Springfield Facebook group that went viral. The post claimed a neighbor’s daughter’s friend had lost her cat and made the unverified assertion that Haitians had taken the cat for food.

This post was widely circulated online by figures such as right-wing activist Charlie Kirk from Turning Point USA and even attracted the attention of Elon Musk.

Additionally, one of the most circulated images online, which features a man holding a dead goose, was actually taken not in Springfield, but in Columbus, Ohio, two months prior. The resident responsible for the photo expressed disbelief upon discovering that it was being used to promote erroneous narratives.

Several prominent Republicans have contributed to the spread of this falsehood on social media. An AI-generated image depicting Trump holding cats and ducks was distributed by the House Judiciary GOP account on X.

Sen. Vance has been particularly vocal in amplifying the debunked claims. He shared a video of himself during a Senate Banking Committee hearing, where he read correspondence from Springfield City Manager Bryan Heck discussing the city’s difficulties in accommodating the growing Haitian immigrant population.

In his post, Vance reiterated the unfounded claim that Haitian immigrants are abducting and consuming pets in Springfield. He stated, “Months ago, I raised the issue of Haitian illegal immigrants draining social services and generally causing chaos all over Springfield, Ohio. Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn’t be in this country. Where is our border czar?” This is a term that Republicans have attempted to associate with Vice President Kamala Harris, despite her denying any responsibility for the border situation.

The spread of these false claims has drawn significant attention, raising questions about the impact of misinformation in political discourse and its influence on public perception of immigrant communities.