The 2024 US election has taken an unusual turn with a strange claim dominating discussions in Springfield, Ohio. Former President Donald Trump, during a televised speech, boldly stated that immigrants were stealing and consuming the local pets. “They’re eating the dogs!” Trump exclaimed. “They’re eating the cats!” City officials, however, have received no credible reports of household pets being targeted this way. Karen Graves, a spokesperson for the city, mentioned that while no hate crimes against Haitian residents were reported, some have been victims of property theft.
On Friday, Trump reiterated his commitment to mass deportations of Haitian immigrants in Springfield, despite the fact that most of the city’s 15,000 Haitian residents are in the U.S. legally. His claims about pet-eating immigrants, made during a debate with Democrat Kamala Harris, have since been widely ridiculed.
In response to recent events, two elementary schools were evacuated and a middle school was closed following bomb threats in the community. President Joe Biden called for an end to attacks on the Haitian community, noting that the Biden administration has extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for hundreds of thousands of Haitians due to ongoing crises in Haiti, such as gang violence and widespread food insecurity.
Key Points
- US Election Date: November 5, 2024.
- Republican Candidate: Donald Trump.
