Washington
The US government has strongly condemned former President Donald Trump for spreading unfounded claims that immigrants eat pets. It is dangerous for leaders to spread “hateful rhetoric and bizarre slander” that has been refuted, White House Press Secretary Carine Jean-Pierre said in Washington when asked about Trump’s recent comments. “Yes, we are concerned. This is dangerous,” she stressed. Some migrants from Haiti have feared for their safety as such conspiracy theories spread.
Republican presidential candidate Trump has accused immigrants of eating pets. “In Springfield, they eat dogs. People come here and eat cats. They eat the pets of the people who live there,” Trump said in a televised duel with Democrat Kamala Harris, in front of millions of viewers. Provide evidence to support your claim. Trump was referring to comments made by his running mate, JD Vance, who claimed that illegal Haitian immigrants steal and eat pets in his hometown of Springfield, Ohio.
According to US media, Springfield authorities are not aware of any such incident. City Hall was evacuated Thursday after a bomb threat. It was unclear whether the incident was related to recent headlines about Springfield. Jean-Pierre said the background is being investigated.
Vance himself recently acknowledged his statements to Platform X, saying, “Of course, there is a chance that all of these rumors will turn out to be false.” But that doesn’t stop him from repeating his claims.
In response to Vance’s comments, numerous Republicans have been posting AI-generated images on social networks for days, usually showing cats or geese with a plea for help. Trump recently posted a similar post on Truth Social, including one of a kitten holding a sign that read, “Don’t let them eat us. Vote for Trump!”
Trump has repeatedly described immigrants as dangerous criminals, and has used dehumanizing language, calling them “animals,” among other things. The president spoke in Arizona, saying the U.S. is dealing with an unprecedented invasion of immigrants who are destroying the country. He once again targeted Springfield, claiming that immigrants there are fleeing with geese and pets.
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