Overview:
The claims which have been proven false, targeted Haitian immigrants with lies about them eating cats and dogs.
Springfield, Ohio, has faced bomb threats for two consecutive days following former President Donald Trump’s remarks during a high-profile debate with Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump, without providing evidence, claimed that Haitian immigrants in the city were engaging in alarming behavior, thrusting Springfield into the international spotlight.
“In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs. The people that came in, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating — they’re eating the pets of the people that live there,” Trump alleged during the debate, which attracted over 67 million viewers.
Although ABC moderator David Muir fact-checked Trump in real-time, the former president stood by his claims. Springfield’s mayor, city manager, and Ohio’s Republican governor, Mike DeWine, have all confirmed that there is no evidence to support Trump’s statements.
Following Trump’s remarks, tensions in Springfield quickly escalated. Within 48 hours, multiple bomb threats were made against local government buildings and elementary schools. Springfield’s mayor revealed that these threats included “hateful language” directed at Haitians.
By Friday, two additional bomb threats were reported, targeting even more schools.
According to Police Chief Allison Elliott, the first round of threats came via email on Thursday morning around 8:30 a.m., targeting various government agencies and media outlets. The email threatened Springfield City Hall, two driver’s license offices, and two elementary schools. Investigators evacuated and cleared each location, and bomb-sniffing dogs assisted in the search.
References to the claim that Haitian migrants have been eating cats, ducks, and geese have gained widespread attention on X (formerly Twitter), with one post by Ohio Republican Senator J.D. Vance accumulating 11.1 million views as of Wednesday morning. Vance, who has previously voiced concerns about Haitian immigrants “causing chaos all over Springfield,” stated, “Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by individuals who shouldn’t be in this country.”
In addition to dispelling rumors about harm to pets, the city’s spokesperson said there were no confirmed instances of migrants squatting, littering, or deliberately disrupting traffic.