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Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
Police say they have not received any credible reports of immigrants harming people’s pets in Springfield, Ohio, as a racist rumor spread further by JD Vance continues to circulate.
Donald Trump’s running mate posted a video yesterday, in which he peddled the rumor immigrants were abducting pets and eating them, “causing chaos” in the town.
Springfield Police Division said it was aware of the “rumors” but has no information to support them.
“In response to recent rumors alleging criminal activity by the immigrant population in our city, we wish to clarify that there have been no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individuals within the immigrant community,” NBC reports.
Police added: “Additionally, there have been no verified instances of immigrants engaging in illegal activities such as squatting or littering in front of residents’ homes. Furthermore, no reports have been made regarding members of the immigrant community deliberately disrupting traffic.”
In an apparent attack on Kamala Harris over her border and immigration policies, yesterday Vance wrote on X: “Months ago, I raised the issue of Haitian illegal immigrants draining social services and generally causing chaos all over Springfield, Ohio. Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn’t be in this country. Where is our border czar?”
Vance’s debunked claim appears to have originated from a local Facebook group in Springfield which warned residents to be wary of the Haitian community and alleged that animals, including cats and dogs, were being “carved up” for consumption.
The Ohio senator’s post has been viewed 8.2 million times and the rumor has also been peddled by billionaire Elon Musk, who reposted a claim on X that 20,000 Haitian immigrants were “destroying” Springfield.
Musk’s post, which has been viewed 27 million times, said: “Vote for Kamala if you want this to happen to your neighborhood!”
Trump’s former presidential adviser and former New York mayor Rudy Giulianialso piled in on his America’s Mayor Live show streamed on X.
“This is crazy. This is ridiculous. They’re Haitians and they’re eating domestic pets,” the disbarred lawyer said.
In the near two-hour rant, a producer off-camera prompts him to discuss the story about Haitian immigrants in Springfield.
The producer says: “Part of that is just a cultural difference,” the producer says.
Giuliani responds: “I mean look, it’s not going to do much good if you take my little cat and tell me there’s a cultural difference and kill it. I’m gonna be kind of angry. How about you accept a civilized culture before you come here? If you eat cats and dogs you’re not civilized.”
A spokesperson for the Vance campaign stood by the claims, telling NBC the senator received “a high volume of calls and emails over the past several weeks from concerned citizens in Springfield”.
