The White House condemned Donald Trump’s debunked reports that migrants were stealing and eating cats and dogs in Ohio as “scum” and said it put people’s lives at risk.
The small town of Springfield, Ohio, has been thrust into the spotlight in recent days after an unfounded story of Haitian migrants eating pets went viral on social media, with former Republican President and current White House candidate pushing the narrative despite it being unfounded.
Democrats blame Trump and his running mate, the Ohio senator.of stoking racial tensions by using the Springfield conspiracy theory to elevate immigration as a campaign issue ahead of the November election.
Although local authorities said they had not received any credible reports of pet thefts and consumption, Trump reiterated that claim. .
“It’s spreading filth that’s destroying the lives of the communities that are being littered here… it’s putting their lives in danger,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Thursday.
A Springfield government building and school were evacuated Thursday after an alleged bomb threat.
“Due to a bomb threat that was made today against several Springfield facilities, City Hall is closed today,” reads a message on the city government’s Facebook page.
“Municipal authorities were alerted of this threat by email this morning at 8:24 a.m. The email was sent to several agencies and media outlets,” the statement added.
Fulton Elementary School was also evacuated Thursday, although it was not immediately clear whether that was related to the same bomb threat.
Arriving at the school to pick up his child, Haitian immigrant Mackenso Roseme told AFP that the current tensions in the community were “worrying.”
“I’m a little stressed. I think something might happen,” he said.
The bomb threat came from someone claiming to be from Springfield and mentioned Haitian immigration issues, local newspaper Springfield News-Sun said, according to Mayor Rob Rue.
Despite the bomb threats, Trump was still reposting conspiracy theory-related memes hours later on his Truth Social platform.
He said Ohio was “flooded with illegal migrants, primarily from Haiti, who are invading cities and towns at a level and rate never before seen.”
Springfield, with a population of about 58,000, has seen an increase in Haitian immigrants in recent years — from 10,000 to 15,000, according to the Springfield News-Sun.
Social services, schools and housing have been under pressure in the city for years, with some pointing to migration as a factor.
Ohio father tells Trump to stop invoking his son’s death
The father of a Springfield boy killed in a crash caused by a Haitian migrant driver last year implored Trump and other politicians to stop invoking his son’s name.
Eleven-year-old Aiden Clark was killed when a minivan driven by a Haitian migrant crashed into a school bus in August 2023. The driver was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter and vehicular homicide.
Both the Trump and Vance campaigns referenced Aiden’s death and the identity of the driver in online posts this week, linking the incident to immigration.
Aiden’s father, Nathan Clark, spoke at a Springfield City Council hearing the same day Trump repeated his debunked claims about Springfield’s Haitian community during his debate with Harris.
“My son Aiden Clark was not murdered,” he said, refuting a claim Vance posted on social media. “He was accidentally killed by a Haitian immigrant.”
“They can spew all the hatred they want about illegal immigrants, the border crisis, and even false claims about fluffy pets being ravaged and eaten by community members.
“However, they are not permitted, and have never been permitted, to mention Aiden Clark of Springfield, Ohio.
“This must stop now,” he added. “I will listen to them again to hear their excuses.”
Will there be another Harris vs. Trump debate?
On Thursday, Trump announced he would not participate in another televised debate with Harris before the Nov. 5 election.
“There will be no third debate!” he wrote on his Truth Social platform, including his June face-to-face with US President Joe Biden in his count.
Harris, meanwhile, told supporters at a rally in North Carolina that she thinks voters are owed another debate.
