Senator JD Vance, the Republican vice-presidential nominee, has come under intense scrutiny after defending his decision to spread unsubstantiated claims that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating pets. This story, which has been echoed by former President Donald Trump, has sparked significant controversy and fearmongering, particularly within the Springfield community.
During an appearance on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday, Vance stood by his assertions, citing "first-hand accounts" from his constituents as the basis for the claims. Despite these claims lacking any credible evidence, Vance argued that his actions were necessary to draw attention to the impact of immigration on small American towns. "The American media totally ignored this stuff until Donald Trump and I started talking about cat memes," Vance said. "If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that's what I'm going to do."
Vance's remarks highlight a troubling willingness to spread misinformation in the pursuit of political gain, raising alarms among both Democrats and Republicans. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was quick to criticize Vance, saying on X, "Remarkable confession by JD Vance when he said he will 'create stories' (that is, lie) to redirect the media." Buttigieg emphasized that Vance's focus on such divisive rhetoric distracts from critical issues like abortion rights, job creation, and taxation.
Springfield, a city with approximately 60,000 residents, has seen an influx of 15,000 to 20,000 Haitian migrants over the past four years. These migrants have largely come to the city legally under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) due to the violence and instability in Haiti. Despite this, Vance referred to them as "illegal" during his CNN appearance, a characterization that has been widely debunked by officials, including Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.
DeWine, a Republican, has publicly rejected the pet-eating rumors, calling them baseless. In an interview on NPR's "Morning Edition," he praised the work ethic of the Haitian community in Springfield, noting that local employers have expressed gratitude for their contributions. "We had one person the other day saying, I wish I had 100 more working for me," DeWine said. "Look, these are good people. The people in Springfield are good people."
The spread of these rumors has had serious consequences for the Springfield community. Following the claims made by Trump and Vance, the city has received numerous bomb threats, heightening tensions and fear among residents. Vance has dismissed any suggestion that his rhetoric contributed to these threats, instead blaming the media for what he described as "amplifying the worst people in the world."
Vance's comments come at a time when immigration is a contentious issue in the 2024 election. Trump has vowed to carry out the "largest deportation in the history of our country," specifically targeting Haitian migrants in Springfield and Venezuelan immigrants in Aurora, Colorado. This rhetoric has been condemned by local law enforcement, with Aurora police describing Trump's claims about Venezuelan gangs "taking over" the city as exaggerated.
Despite the backlash, Vance continues to defend his stance, framing it as a critique of the Biden administration's immigration policies. "I'm not mad at Haitian migrants for wanting to have a better life," Vance said. "We're angry at Kamala Harris for letting this happen."
Haitian migrants in Springfield have become a flashpoint in the broader debate over immigration, with far-right conspiracy theories and xenophobic rhetoric taking center stage. Town officials have worked to dispel these falsehoods, but the damage to the community's reputation and sense of security has already been done.
In addition to defending his false claims about Haitian migrants, Vance also sought to distance himself from comments made by Laura Loomer, a far-right ally of Trump, who recently made racist remarks about Vice President Kamala Harris. Loomer's comments, which included a derogatory reference to Harris's Indian heritage, have drawn widespread condemnation. Vance, whose wife is of Indian heritage, downplayed Loomer's remarks, saying, "What Laura said about Kamala Harris is not what we should be focused on. We should be focused on the policy and on the issues."
