JD Vance, Elon Musk, and multiple right-wing media allies, including Newsmax, have faced intense backlash for propagating a racist and unfounded rumor that Haitian migrants are abducting and consuming pets in Springfield, Ohio. This false claim, which has been widely debunked, was thrust into the spotlight by Vance’s video and amplified by Musk and MAGA-affiliated platforms.
In a recent video, Vance, the Republican vice presidential candidate, peddled the baseless rumor that illegal Haitian immigrants are “causing chaos” in Springfield. His post seemed designed to criticize Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris’s border and immigration policies.
On Monday, Vance wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Months ago, I raised the issue of Haitian illegal immigrants draining social services and generally causing chaos all over Springfield, Ohio. Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn’t be in this country. Where is our border czar?”
The post has amassed 2.4 million views, but the claims have been thoroughly debunked. The rumor originated from a local Facebook group in Springfield that falsely warned residents about the Haitian community, alleging that animals like cats and dogs were being “carved up” for consumption. A resident also claimed at a Springfield city meeting that Haitian migrants were decapitating ducks in public parks.
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Springfield police have confirmed there have been no reports of pets being stolen or eaten, according to the Springfield News-Sun. The police acknowledged awareness of the viral Facebook post but stated that the claims are untrue.
Critics have condemned Vance for spreading misinformation. One X user responded: “This has been debunked but of course you’re spreading fake news. You’re desperate and sad.” Another remarked: “This is a lie. You are a liar, and a bad one at that.”
The false claims have been further propagated by MAGA-aligned figures and media, including Elon Musk and Newsmax.
Musk amplified the unfounded rumors by reposting a claim that 20,000 Haitian immigrants were “destroying” Springfield, writing: “Vote for Kamala if you want this to happen to your neighborhood!” This post has been viewed nearly 10 million times.
Musk further fueled the narrative with another post featuring images of a duck and a kitten, captioned “Save them!” linking these visuals to the fabricated claims about Haitian migrants.
These posts attempt to tie the false claims to Harris’s statement on the Biden administration’s extension of temporary protected status to over 100,000 Haitian immigrants. Vance has previously faced criticism for derogatory remarks about Harris supporters, referring to them as “childless cat ladies.”
The border issue remains a heated topic, expected to be a focal point in Tuesday’s presidential debate between Harris and Trump. At a rally in Wisconsin, Trump reiterated his attacks on Harris’s border policy, exaggerating figures to claim that “as border czar, Kamala Harris let in over 20 million, they’re now saying the number could be 25 million illegal aliens from 168 different countries.”
These figures are grossly overstated; US Customs and Border Protection has recorded approximately 10 million migrant encounters nationwide since the start of Joe Biden’s presidency. The number of encounters can include multiple instances involving the same migrant.
Trump also repeated his assertion that those crossing the border include individuals from “prisons and jails, insane asylums and mental institutions and terrorists at a level that we’ve never seen before.”
See some of the posts below:
Months ago, I raised the issue of Haitian illegal immigrants draining social services and generally causing chaos all over Springfield, Ohio.
Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn't be in this country. Where is our border czar? pic.twitter.com/rf0EDIeI5i
— JD Vance (@JDVance) September 9, 2024
This has been debunked but of course you're spreading fake news. You're desperate and sad.
— Art Candee 🍿🥤 (@ArtCandee) September 9, 2024
Vote for Kamala if you want this to happen to your neighborhood! https://t.co/TfR8ekmFAZ
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 9, 2024
Save them! 😢 pic.twitter.com/aLMPTJIPd9
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 9, 2024
And now we have Newsmax peddling the debunked "Haitians are eating pets in Ohio" claim, with the host saying "there's been some videos circulating online" and the network "is working to confirm any additional details."
Local police say it's not true: https://t.co/WARhMRSiJP pic.twitter.com/sVSKRcDgVB
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) September 9, 2024
