Trump Repeats Vile Lie About Immigrants

Donald Trump during the ABC News debate on Tuesday repeated the racist lie that Haitian immigrants have been eating Americans’ pets.

The line from Trump came a day after his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, spread a racist rumor that locals in Springfield, Ohio have had their pets “abducted and eaten by people who shouldn’t be in this country,” only to be swiftly debunked by police and public officials. (Vance has since doubled down.)

“In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs,” Trump said Tuesday night. “The people that came in, they’re eating the cats. 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.”

Springfield, Ohio has seen a significant increase in Haitian immigrants in recent years.

But there’s simply nothing to back up Trump’s claims. The lie originated in right-wing rumor mills on the internet ― particularly on X, formerly Twitter. Trump allies circulated fourth-hand accounts about a missing cat that was supposedly later seen hanging from a tree ― there’s no evidence this happened ― and linked it to unrelated police body camera footage of an American woman in a city three hours away who was arrested for allegedly killing and eating a cat, but who is not an immigrant.

Support Free Journalism

Consider supporting HuffPost starting at $2 to help us provide free, quality journalism that puts people first.

Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would