(Washington) Donald Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, continued to fuel racist rumors Sunday against Haitian immigrants living in Ohio, the state where he is a senator, despite firm denials from the governor, who is also a Republican.
The city of Springfield has been at the heart of the presidential campaign between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris for days, with unfounded rumors that Haitian immigrants in the city eat cats, dogs and other pets.
Asked on CBS about these rumors that have emerged on social media, Mr. Vance gave them even more credence: “I’ve heard about ten things from my constituents in Springfield, Ohio, ten of which can be verified and confirmed.”
“Some of them are direct first-hand accounts, such as migrants taking geese from a park and slaughtering and eating them,” added the US vice-presidential candidate.
In recent days, these allegations, relayed by Donald Trump, have triggered bomb threats and temporary school closures, with police on edge and frightened immigrants.
“We condemn all violence and threats,” Vance conceded. “But it must also be said that these terrible problems were caused by Kamala Harris’s open-border policy in Springfield,” he attacked.
Springfield, which is overwhelmingly white, has seen its population grow in recent years. Fleeing the terrible crisis in their country, about 15,000 Haitians have arrived in a city that had fewer than 60,000 residents in 2020, drawn by the economic recovery of the city and Ohio.
Asked on ABC, the Republican governor of this Midwestern state, Mike DeWine, dismissed these rumors as “ridiculous” despite his support for Mr. Trump: “This talk about Haitians eating dogs, cats or whatever has to stop.”
“The Haitians are in Springfield legally. They came to work. Ohio is growing and Springfield is really experiencing a renaissance with a lot of businesses moving here,” he insisted.
“These Haitians came to work in these companies and they tell us that they are excellent employees and that they are very satisfied to have them, because frankly it contributes to the economy,” defended the head of the local executive.