Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance stood by the inaccurate statements he and Donald Trump have been spreading regarding Haitians in an Ohio community allegedly abducting and consuming pets. Despite Ohio’s GOP governor and other officials rejecting these claims due to lack of evidence, Vance insisted that constituents in Springfield raised concerns, with at least 10 being verifiable according to him.
In multiple interviews on news programs, Vance justified his actions by stating he was drawing attention to Democrat Kamala Harris’ immigration policies, which he claims are lenient. He suggested that unusual cultural practices might be associated with a large influx of migrants. Concerns escalated after Trump mentioned Springfield by name during the presidential debate, leading to bomb threats, school and government evacuations, and negative attention on the city.
Governor Mike DeWine denounced the false claims, stating there was no evidence to support them. DeWine emphasized that the Haitian immigrants in Springfield are legal and contribute positively to the local economy by working for various companies that have set up operations in the area. Despite the lack of factual basis, the narrative surrounding the unfounded claims has become a focus of Trump’s campaign.
Vance and some local officials attributed the misinformation to highlighting broader concerns about immigration policies, particularly critiquing Kamala Harris. Around 15,000 immigrants, including Haitians, have arrived in Springfield in recent years under legal federal programs. The Biden administration recently granted temporary legal status to approximately 300,000 Haitians in the U.S. due to unsafe conditions in Haiti.
Springfield’s mayor, Rob Rue, clarified that investigations found no evidence to support the claims of pet abductions and consumption by Haitians. In response to questioning about the accuracy of the allegations, Vance expressed a willingness to create stories to direct media attention to American suffering, attributing his actions to shedding light on policy-related hardships. The issue has been prominently featured on various news programs.
