Trump Baselessly Claims Haitian Immigrants In Ohio Are Eating Pets

Trump said immigrants are “eating the dogs” and “eating the cats” of Springfield residents, during a segment about immigration policy.

The claim, which has also been spread by Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, appeared to originate from a user on a Springfield, Ohio, group page on Facebook claiming their neighbor’s daughter’s friend found her cat hung and carved from a branch at a Haitian neighbor’s home—though the post’s claim had no first-hand backing.

Springfield Police investigations commander Mike Kranz told Forbes there have been “no credible reports” of immigrants in the small Ohio city harming pets.

Debate moderator David Muir cited Springfield officials’ denials, to which Trump claimed he has seen “people on television” who have said their “dog was taken and used for food.”

Vance also pushed the claim this week and doubled down on it Tuesday, claiming he heard from Springfield residents who have said their neighbors’ pets were taken by Haitian immigrants, though the senator noted “it’s “possible, of course, that all of these rumors will turn out to be false.”