Republican Vice Presidential nominee Senator JD Vance has come under intense scrutiny for amplifying an unfounded conspiracy theory that claims Haitian immigrants in Ohio are abducting and eating pets. The Biden administration swiftly condemned these claims, calling them "dangerous" and "misinformation," while Springfield police confirmed that there is no evidence to support the allegations.
The controversy began when Vance, a prominent figure in the Republican Party and a close ally of former President Donald Trump, shared a video on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). In the video, Vance cited a letter from Springfield city manager Bryan Heck, highlighting challenges the city faces due to an influx of Haitian immigrants. Vance took the opportunity to further claim, without evidence, that these immigrants were responsible for abducting and eating pets-a notion that quickly sparked outrage and condemnation.
"Months ago, I raised the issue of Haitian illegal immigrants draining social services and generally causing chaos all over Springfield, Ohio," Vance wrote on X. He then added, "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?"
The reaction from the Biden administration was swift and sharp. John Kirby, National Security Council spokesperson, addressed the issue in a press briefing, labeling Vance's claims as "complete nonsense." Kirby warned of the dangers of spreading such misinformation, noting that it could incite real-world violence. "This kind of language, this kind of disinformation, is dangerous because there will be people that believe it no matter how ludicrous and stupid it is, and they might act on that kind of information and act on it in a way where somebody could get hurt," Kirby said. "So, it needs to stop."
Kirby also criticized the underlying racism in the conspiracy theory, stating, "What's deeply concerning to us is you've got now elected officials in the Republican Party pushing, you know, yet another conspiracy theory that's just seeking to divide people based on lies, and, let's be honest, based on an element of racism."
The Springfield Police Division supported the White House's stance, clarifying that they had received no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed by immigrants. In a statement provided to NBC News, the police emphasized, "There have been no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured, or abused by individuals within the immigrant community."
Vance, however, seemed to walk back his earlier assertions, albeit tentatively. In a follow-up post on X, he acknowledged the possibility that the rumors he shared could be false. "In the last several weeks, my office has received many inquiries from actual residents of Springfield who've said their neighbors' pets or local wildlife were abducted by Haitian migrants," Vance wrote. "It's possible, of course, that all of these rumors will turn out to be false."
The timing of Vance's controversial statements raised eyebrows, as it coincided with the highly anticipated debate between Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. Observers noted that Vance's comments and the subsequent backlash may have been an attempt to stoke partisan tensions ahead of the debate.
Adding fuel to the fire, other prominent Republicans, including Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., and Texas Senator Ted Cruz, also echoed the baseless pet-eating claim on social media. This prompted further criticism from political analysts and civil rights organizations, who argued that such rhetoric only serves to inflame racial tensions and sow division.
Kirby, in his press briefing, underscored the importance of responsible leadership and called for a shift away from fearmongering. "I think what we need to have is-instead of complete BS being pushed out there-a more meaningful discussion about how we can develop legal pathways for people who have come into this country and fair opportunities for them if they come in legally," Kirby said.
