Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has refuted former President Donald Trump’s controversial claim made during Tuesday’s presidential debate that Haitian immigrants in Springfield are eating pets.
During the debate, Trump alleged, “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs, the people that came in, they’re eating the cats… They’re eating the pets of the people that live there.” He characterized this as a troubling reality in the country, stating, “And this is what’s happening in our country, and it’s a shame.”
Governor DeWine, alongside Springfield officials, has dismissed these claims as unfounded rumours. “I think we should take the word of the city manager and the mayor that they’ve found no credible evidence of that story—of Haitians eating cats,” DeWine said. “I think it’s important for us to really focus in Springfield on what’s important. We have an additional 15,000 people come in, which is very unusual. It creates particular challenges that we are working on.”
During the debate, Trump was challenged by the moderators, who emphasized that local officials had not reported any credible incidents involving immigrants harming pets. In response to Trump’s statements, Vice President Kamala Harris could be seen reacting with disbelief, saying, “Talk about extreme.”
The debate spotlighted the ongoing discourse around immigration and misinformation, with local officials in Springfield working to address the real challenges posed by the influx of new residents.
