Ohio GOP Gov.: Trump’s false attacks on Springfield ‘dilute and cloud’ campaign’s border argument

• Former President Donald Trump and running mate JD Vance's unfounded claims about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio weaken the Republican Party's border message, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said.
• "Their verbal attacks against these Haitians — who are legally present in the United States — dilute and cloud what should be a winning argument about the border," DeWine, a Republican, wrote in the New York Times.
• Springfield, Ohio was thrust into the national spotlight after Trump and Vance — who represents Ohio in the Senate — promoted unfounded rumors that Haitian immigrants were stealing and eating city resident's pets.

Former President Donald Trump and running mate JD Vance's unfounded claims about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio weaken the Republican Party's border message, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine wrote in an op-ed published Friday.

"The Biden administration's failure to control the southern border is a very important issue that Mr. Trump and Mr. Vance are talking about and one that the American people are rightfully deeply concerned about," DeWine, a Republican, wrote in the New York Times.

"But their verbal attacks against these Haitians — who are legally present in the United States — dilute and cloud what should be a winning argument about the border," he said.

The perception that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have failed to stem the tide of asylum seekers ant the souther border has long been a key message for Republicans up and down the ballot, not just for Trump's reelection campaign.

Trump's latest immigration claims thrust Springfield, Ohio into the national spotlight, after he and Vance — who represents Ohio in the Senate — promoted unfounded rumors that Haitian immigrants were