Trump Defends Spreading Lies That Immigrants Are Eating Pets And ‘Other Things, Too’ | EUROtoday

Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday defended spreading lies that Haitian immigrants are consuming peoples’ pets in Springfield, Ohio, saying he was merely repeating “what was reported,” regardless of native officers repeatedly debunking the baseless claims.

During a city corridor hosted by the Spanish-language community Univision with undecided Latino voters, Trump was requested if he actually believed the conspiracy principle.

“This was just reported, I was just saying what was reported,” Trump mentioned. “That’s been reported, and [they are] eating other things, too, that they’re not supposed to be.”

“All I do is report,” he added.

Trump additionally spoke about his plans to journey to the Ohio metropolis, claiming he would offer an replace on the difficulty after seeing the extent of the purported drawback along with his personal eyes.

“I was there, I’m going to be there, and we’re going to take a look, and I’ll give you a full report when I do,” Trump mentioned. “But that’s been in the newspapers and reported pretty broadly.”

The lies about Haitians stealing and consuming pets first originated on social media final month and have been then amplified by Trump and his operating mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance (R).

Local officers, together with Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R), have repeatedly pushed again towards the conspiracy principle, noting that there was no credible proof to counsel immigrants have been partaking in such habits. Several information organizations have additionally fact-checked the claims.

That hasn’t stopped Trump from utilizing his platform to unfold the falsehood. He even shared the claims throughout his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris final month, prompting a reality test by ABC’s David Muir, one of many occasion’s moderators.

“In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs,” Trump mentioned. “The people that came in, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live there. And this is what’s happening in our country. And it’s a shame.”

The lies had an actual affect on Springfield. Schools and authorities buildings turned the goal of bomb threats, with DeWine sending state patrol troopers to be stationed throughout the entire metropolis’s faculties in response to the threats.

A current ballot by The Washington Post confirmed that whereas a majority of Ohio voters don’t imagine Trump’s racist claims, he’s nonetheless main Harris by six proportion factors within the state.

Trump has additionally pledged to revoke the authorized standing of Haitian immigrants residing in Springfield and deport them from the nation if he secures reelection in subsequent month’s presidential race.