In a televised debate with Kamala Harris, Donald Trump addressed the untrue rumor that Haitian immigrants steal and eat pets. The Haitian government responded with sharp criticism.
In a televised duel with Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, her Republican opponent Donald Trump made several unsubstantiated claims, including that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were stealing and eating pets. “That’s not true,” city officials said. Now, the Haitian government has responded.
The Haitian Ministry of Foreign Affairs categorically rejected the former U.S. president’s remarks, which not only violate the dignity of immigrants but “can put their lives at risk,” authorities warned in a post on the short message service X.
The Haitian government has expressed “deep concern” about these types of discriminatory rumors, but this is not the first time that Haitians abroad have been “stigmatized and dehumanized” by disinformation campaigns during the election campaign.
Several Republican lawmakers are spreading the argument on social media.
Claims of Haitian immigrants in Springfield have long circulated online. Other versions of the rumor claim that Haitians hunt and butcher ducks and geese in the park.
The post was shared by several prominent Republicans, including Trump’s running mate JD Vance and Texas Senator Ted Cruz.
The city and police denied the rumors.
The city of Springfield also reacted to the rumor on Tuesday, before Harris and Trump’s televised showdown.
“In response to recent rumors of immigrant criminal activity in our city, we want to make it clear that we have had no credible reports or specific allegations that any pets of individuals in our immigrant community have been harmed, injured or abused,” the spokesperson said. Mayor Rob Rue also dismissed the claims as “completely false.”
City police also said there was no evidence the pets were stolen or eaten.
