The Republican mayor of Ohio, which has been the target of former President Donald Trump and his running mate’s baseless claims about Haitian immigrants eating residents’ pets, said Tuesday that a visit by the Republican presidential candidate would strain the city’s resources.
“It would be a tremendous strain on our resources. So it would be good if they decided not to make that visit,” Springfield Mayor Rob Rue said at a news conference at City Hall on Tuesday.
NBC News reported Sunday that Trump planned to visit the city “soon,” according to a source familiar with the former president’s plans, after confirming during a presidential debate an unsubstantiated claim that had been circulating in right-wing circles online for weeks, saying Haiti. immigrants “ate the local residents’ dogs” and cats.
Springfield officials have said the allegations were unfounded, and city police issued a statement saying there is “no reliable information” about pets being harmed by Haitian immigrants.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, had also dismissed the claims as “trash” and visited Springfield on Tuesday as the city responds to dozens of bomb threats deemed hoaxes that have led to temporary closures and evacuations of schools and city buildings.
DeWine said a campaign visit by a presidential candidate is “generally very, very welcome,” but acknowledged that it presents challenges.
“I have to state the fact that resources are really, really stretched here,” DeWine said.
DeWine said he hasn’t spoken to Trump or Vance and hasn’t heard about the candidates possibly visiting Springfield.
In response to a request for comment, Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that “the residents of Springfield, OH are facing “very real problems: skyrocketing rent costs, stressed public health and education services, increased vehicle accidents and public safety concerns. as a community of 60,000 Ohioans is overwhelmed by a sudden influx of immigrants, President Trump continues to talk about making America safe.
Ohio Sen. JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential candidate who has also spread false claims about pets in Springfield, told reporters Tuesday that he has no plans to visit the city.
When asked Tuesday if he would participate in the trip with the former president or if he had any travel plans of his own, Vance said the trip had not been made official, but safety would be the main concern.
“I haven’t made plans to go just for the last few days,” Vance said. “I know the president would like to leave, but he hasn’t made any concrete plans either.”
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
