Trump's shocking claims about migrants eating pets debunked
7:06 AM EDT, September 11, 2024
During the presidential debate, Donald Trump made the shocking claim that migrants in Springfield, Ohio, are kidnapping and eating household pets. "I've seen people on television… the people on television say, 'my dog was taken and used for food,'" he said. The debate moderator quickly countered, pointing out that local authorities and police have no such reports.
Trump argued that migrants in Springfield, Ohio, are eating both domestic and wild animals.
"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. And this is what's happening in our country, and it's a shame," he claimed.
Kamala Harris laughed and said that "this is unbelievable."
The ABC News moderator interrupted Trump, stating that they had contacted the mayor of Springfield. Authorities confirmed they had no records of such incidents and that the story about the "eaten cat" originated in a different city.
Trump defended himself by saying he got his information from a resident's statement on television. I've seen people on television… the people on television say 'my dog was taken and used for food,' so maybe he said that and maybe that's a good thing to say for a city manager - he persisted.
Republicans spread the rumor, authorities deny
Media reports indicate that a post on the X platform surfaced on September 6, claiming someone saw a cat being eaten by Haitian migrants. A picture showing a black man carrying a Canadian goose was also posted.
Trump's vice-presidential candidate, J.D. Vance, wrote on Monday: "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?" In another post, he claimed his team is receiving many complaints about animals being eaten by Haitians.
City manager Bryan Heck released a statement denying such incidents had occurred.
"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," he wrote.
Local police also reported that they had not received any reports of stolen or eaten animals.
However, media outlets have pointed out an incident recently related to eating animals. Last month in Canton, Ohio, a 27-year-old woman was arrested for torturing, killing, and then eating a cat. However, she was not a migrant from Haiti.
