In a bizarre and controversial moment during Tuesday's presidential debate, former President Donald Trump claimed, without evidence, that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were abducting and eating pets, including dogs and cats. The statement, made as part of his broader critique of immigration policies under the Biden-Harris administration, immediately drew a sharp response from both the debate moderator and political commentators.
"What they have done to our country by allowing these millions and millions of people to come into our country, and look at what's happening to the towns all over the United States," Trump said. "In Springfield, they're eating the dogs. The people that came in. They're eating the cats. They're eating- they're eating the pets of the people that live there. And this is what's happening in our country, and it's a shame."
Trump's claim, however, was quickly debunked by ABC News moderator David Muir, who noted that the Springfield city manager had confirmed there were "no credible reports" of such incidents. Muir's correction highlighted the fact that the allegations, which had gained traction on social media and were echoed by figures like Trump's running mate, Senator JD Vance (R-Ohio), were entirely baseless.
"There is no evidence that Haitian immigrants in Ohio are abducting and eating pets," Muir stated. "ABC News did reach out to the city manager there. He told us there had been no credible reports of specific claims of pets being harmed, injured, or abused by individuals within the immigrant community."
Despite the correction, Trump persisted, arguing that he had seen reports on television suggesting the veracity of the claim. "Well, I've seen people on television. People on television say, 'My dog was taken and used for food,' so maybe he said that, and maybe that's a good thing to say for a city manager," Trump retorted.
The origins of this conspiracy theory appear to stem from a social media post in a Springfield community group, where a resident falsely claimed that members of the Haitian community had "carved up" animals, including cats and dogs, for consumption. This post was later amplified by prominent Republicans, including Vance and Elon Musk, further fueling the spread of misinformation.
Springfield Police Division also weighed in, confirming that there was no evidence to support the rumors circulating online. However, the damage had already been done, with the false narrative gaining traction among some segments of the population.
White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby condemned the spread of such conspiracy theories earlier in the day, emphasizing the dangers of spreading misinformation. "What's deeply concerning to us is you've got now elected officials in the Republican Party pushing 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," Kirby said.
In the wake of Trump's remarks, Democratic leaders swiftly criticized the former president for perpetuating a racist and unfounded narrative. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison took to social media, denouncing Trump's comments as part of a broader pattern of racist rhetoric.
"The baseless claim that Haitian immigrants in Ohio are eating pets is not only a lie," Ellison wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "It's a racist lie designed to dehumanize Haitian immigrants as savages, which Trump does all the time including [claiming] Obama's a Kenyan, Mexicans are rapists, Venezuelans are taking over US towns."
