Donald Trump accuses immigrants in Ohio of eating pets

AP
Columbus, Ohio, EU

Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday amplified false rumors that Haitian immigrants in Ohio were kidnapping and eating pets, repeating during his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris the kind of incendiary, anti-immigrant rhetoric he has promoted during his campaigns.
There is no evidence that Haitian immigrants from one Ohio community are doing any such thing, officials say. But during the televised debate, Trump specifically mentioned Springfield, Ohio, the city at the center of the claims, saying immigrants were taking over the city.
“They are eating the dogs. They are eating the cats. They are eating the pets of the people who live there,” he said.

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Harris called Trump an “extremist” and laughed after her comment. Debate moderators said city officials have said those claims are not true.
Trump’s comments were similar to claims made by his campaign team, including his running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, and other Republicans. The claims gained attention this week when Vance posted on social media that his office had “received a lot of inquiries” about Haitian immigrants kidnapping pets. Vance acknowledged Tuesday that it was possible “all of these rumors turn out to be false.”
Several officials have said there are no credible or detailed reports to support the claims, even as Trump and his allies have seized on the rumors to spread racist stereotypes about nonwhite immigrants.