NASSAU COUNTY, N.Y. — Haitian leaders and activists are fuming after former President Donald Trump echoed a racist lies from his running mate accusing immigrants of creating havoc and eating homeowners’ pets in an Ohio city that has seen an influx of migrants in recent years.
“Very disturbed by these comments because JD Vance instead of retracting and apologizing, he’s doubling down and changing his story, saying ‘constituents are calling my office saying they saw someone eat a dog or cat or ate Garfield.’ I don’t think so. He’s lying. I challenge… I ask the media to reach out to Senator Vance and ask him for the records of his legislative office. We want to see what constituents are actually saying these lies,” said Carrie Solages, a Nassau County legislator.
“You’re a liar. You’re lying about such good people. That’s un-Christian. How dare you? How dare you go to church? You don’t deserve to be a senator. And I’m asking Elon Musk, I know you were in space today, but honestly you act like a space cadet. How dare you double down on these lies and spread these fallacies through Twitter or X or whatever you want to call it. You’re not even American, you’re South African,” he continued.
On Monday, Vance posted a video on social media when he shared several disparaging lies about Haitian immigrants who have moved to Springfield, Ohio in recent years. On X, Vance repeated the racist rumor that homeowners were reporting their pets being stolen and eaten by Haitians.
During the presidential debate with Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday, Trump repeated Vance’s claim:
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.
Since the debate, Trump and Vance have been pressed about the statements, but both have stood by their remarks about Haitian immigrants.
The rumor has been debunked on numerous occasions by city officials despite the former president and his running mate insisting the claims are credible.
More on the immigration controversy in Springfield, Ohio and white supremacist protests.
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