The Republicans defending Trump’s debunked claims about pet-eating Haitian immigrants | EUROtoday

Several GOP lawmakers have come to the protection of Donald Trump’s false claims that Haitian immigrants are consuming pets in Ohio.

This week, Trump, JD Vance and different right-wingers have promoted the unfounded conspiracy principle that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio are consuming residents’ cats and canine.

The principle – which metropolis officers have stated there isn’t a proof for – was even mentioned on the controversy stage as Trump confronted off towards Kamala Harris. Debate moderator David Muir identified the declare was unfounded, however Trump doubled down.

The baseless declare seems to have originated from a put up describing a fourth-hand account on a Springfield Facebook group. There is not any proof to assist the speculation and metropolis officers have rejected the declare.

Ohio Representative and House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan used the speculation to advertise Trump’s marketing campaign earlier this week. Jordan, on the fitting of the Republican Party, is co-founder of the House Freedom Caucus.

“When President Trump was in office: 1. The border was secure. 2. Illegal aliens weren’t eating your pets,” Jordan wrote on X.

Meanwhile, Florida GOP Representative Greg Steube informed NOTUS “apparently there’s pictures” to again up the declare.

“The fact that you’re saying it’s not happening, it’s not true,” he informed NOTUS

Fellow Florida congressman Brian Mast additionally informed NOTUS it’s “not a stereotype that people eat different animals.”

“You go to different markets in different parts of the world, and you’re going to find horse on the menu, you’re going to find dog on the menu, you’re going to find cat on the menu,” he stated.

Other Republican lawmakers, when requested by The Independent earlier this week, dodged the subject.

This week, Texas Senator Ted Cruz shared a meme of a cat with the textual content “Please vote for Trump so Haitian immigrants don’t eat us.” But he had nothing to say in regards to the principle when beforehand approached by The Independent.

“I talked about the debate last night on Hannity and also today’s podcast is entirely on that issue,” Cruz stated.

Fellow Texan John Cornyn additionally dismissed The Independent’s query.

“If you have a serious question, I’m happy [to answer],” the senator beforehand informed The Independent.

Meanwhile, the White House has condemned these claims.

“I think it’s important that all of us take a step back here and just lean on the facts here,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated on Thursday. “The Springfield, Ohio police department has debunked this very bizarre and very hateful smear that’s out there.”

“What is happening here is an attempt to tear apart communities and disrespect law enforcement, and that is the opposite of what our country deserves,” she continued. “It is undignified and an insult to all of us as Americans, not just one community, but to all of us as Americans.”

“And it is spreading filth that makes the lives of the communities that are being smeared here. It puts their lives in danger and it is just hate speech. That’s what it is.”