The small city of Springfield, Ohio, has become the unlikely focus of a heated controversy, viral memes, and a massive police response, all stemming from a bizarre claim made by former President Donald Trump during his first presidential debate against Kamala Harris.
Trump, known for his provocative statements, claimed that immigrants in Springfield were "eating the dogs" and "eating the cats" of local residents, a statement that was quickly debunked but not before it ignited a storm of social media reactions, including a deluge of memes referencing the long-running TV show The Simpsons.
During the debate, Trump alleged, "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." This outlandish statement, echoing baseless rumors propagated by Trump's running mate, JD Vance, suggested that Haitian immigrants in Springfield were abducting and consuming pets, causing chaos in the community.
ABC News moderator David Muir quickly corrected Trump, stating, "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." However, Trump doubled down on his claim, insisting that he had seen stories on television about pets being eaten.
Trump's reference to a city named Springfield inevitably triggered a wave of memes from Simpsons fans on social media, given that Springfield is the fictional hometown of the beloved animated family. Many users posted images of the show's iconic pets, Santa's Little Helper and Snowball II, humorously suggesting that the cartoon characters might be in danger. The official Twitter account of the BBC's Have I Got News For You show even joined in, posting an image of Homer Simpson with his dog, commenting on Trump's wild statement.
Meanwhile, the real-world implications of Trump's remarks took a darker turn when bomb threats were reported at City Hall and multiple other buildings in Springfield just days after the debate. According to the city commission office, the threats were sent via email to various agencies and media outlets, prompting a significant police response. Explosive-detecting K-9 units were deployed to clear several facilities, including two elementary schools and City Hall, while the FBI worked with local police to investigate the source of the threat.
Springfield Police Chief Allison Elliott told reporters that while the connection between the bomb threats and the rumors about immigrants eating pets is not confirmed, the timing raises concerns. "We are taking every precaution to ensure the safety of our community," Elliott said, adding that the threats had led to the temporary closure of several public buildings out of an abundance of caution.
City officials have been quick to refute Trump's claims, emphasizing that there is no evidence to support the rumors of immigrants harming pets. A spokesperson for Springfield told ABC News, "These claims are false, and there have been no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individuals in the immigrant community."
The Haitian Bridge Alliance, an advocacy group for Haitian immigrants, condemned Trump's statements as "baseless and inflammatory," arguing that they perpetuate harmful stereotypes and contribute to the dangerous stigmatization of immigrant communities, particularly Black immigrants from Haiti.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine also weighed in, dispelling the rumors and pledging additional state resources to assist Springfield in managing the challenges posed by its growing immigrant population. Springfield, which estimates that it is home to between 12,000 and 15,000 immigrants, has seen an influx of migrants attracted by the region's low cost of living and work opportunities. While the rapid population growth has strained local resources, city officials stressed that the migrants are in the country legally, with many holding Temporary Protected Status.
