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Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, speaks to reporters before he departs Pitt-Greenville Airport following a campaign event in Greenville, NC. (AP)Ohio Senator and Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance is standing by false claims that Haitian migrants in Ohio are abducting and eating pets, despite a lack of evidence and refutations from the state’s GOP governor and other officials.
On Sunday, Vance said he had heard from constituents in Springfield who shared concerns about the issue, citing at least 10 cases he believed were credible, according to a report by Associated press.
In media appearances, Vance used these unsubstantiated claims to criticize Vice President Kamala Harris’s immigration policies, suggesting that they are too lenient.
He made a vague reference to cultural practices, saying “Everyone who has dealt with a large influx of migration knows that sometimes there are cultural practices that seem very far out there to a lot of Americans.”
https://indianexpress.com/wp-content/upl...ze=450,253 450w, https://indianexpress.com/wp-content/upl...ze=600,338 600w, https://indianexpress.com/wp-content/upl...ze=768,432 768w, https://indianexpress.com/wp-content/upl...ze=720,405 720w, https://indianexpress.com/wp-content/upl...e=1536,864 1536w, https://indianexpress.com/wp-content/upl...ize=150,83 150w" width="1600"> Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, right, and patrons of Sup Dogs restaurant cheers with drinks during a campaign stop in Greenville, N.C. (AP)Governor Mike DeWine and other local officials have vehemently denied the false claims made by Trump and Vance, stating that they are entirely untrue and have unfairly maligned the city of Springfield.
Since Trump mentioned Springfield in the presidential debate, the city has faced heightened negative scrutiny, including bomb threats that led to the evacuation of schools and government buildings for two days. Some of these threats specifically targeted the migrant community.
Governor DeWine dismissed the allegations, saying, “This is a baseless and false claim with no evidence to support it. It’s simply garbage.”
He emphasized the positive contributions of the Haitian community in Springfield, noting that they are legal residents who have come to work and have boosted the local economy, with their employers praising their contributions.
Despite these clarifications, the narrative has continued to play a significant role in Trump’s campaign messaging. It highlights how some Republicans are willing to embrace and spread unfounded claims as part of the anti-immigrant rhetoric that has been a feature of Trump’s political campaigns.
Vance defended his stance, saying, “Whatever some local mayor said about this case, I am hearing from dozens of constituents who are concerned about these issues.”
He added, “We’re not angry at Haitian migrants wanting a better life; we’re angry at Kamala Harris for allowing this to happen in a small Ohio town. Thank God Donald Trump has called attention to it.”
Springfield, a predominantly white working-class city, has experienced a significant influx of 15,000 immigrants, including Haitian migrants who are legally residing in the US under a federal program.
Despite this, JD Vance has made unsubstantiated claims about the community, which he later defended by saying he would “create stories” to draw attention to the issues faced by Americans.
Vance claimed he was trying to highlight the suffering caused by policies, not spread misinformation. He made the rounds on major news shows, including CBS, CNN, and NBC, while Governor DeWine appeared on ABC to counter his claims.
(with inputs from AP)
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