A recent poll by YouGov reveals that nearly half of Donald Trump’s voters believe his false claim about Haitian immigrants in Ohio eating residents’ pets. The poll indicates that 52 percent of Trump supporters think this assertion is “definitely” or “probably” true, while 24 percent are “not sure,” and 25 percent reject it as “probably” or “definitely” false.
In stark contrast, 81 percent of Kamala Harris voters labeled the claim as “definitely false.”
Despite being widely discredited, Trump and several GOP allies, including JD Vance and Representative Jim Jordan, have continued to spread this misinformation. Springfield’s city manager and Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, have both condemned the claim, stating there are no credible reports of any pets being harmed.
During a recent presidential debate, Trump reiterated the unfounded accusation. When moderator David Muir fact-checked him in real time, Trump dismissed the rebuttal. “I’ve seen people on television say, ‘My dog was taken and used for food,’” he insisted, suggesting that the city manager’s denial may not be entirely trustworthy.
The White House has also spoken out against these falsehoods. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre emphasized the importance of relying on facts, highlighting that the local police department had thoroughly debunked the “bizarre and hateful smear.”
The spread of these lies has had alarming consequences, triggering bomb threats in Springfield that specifically targeted immigrants and Haitians, leading to evacuations at city hall and local schools.
In addition to the pet claim, the YouGov poll shows that Trump supporters are susceptible to other debunked assertions. For instance, 28 percent believe it’s “definitely” or “probably” true that public schools are providing sex-change operations for students. Furthermore, 75 percent continue to assert that President Joe Biden did not legitimately win the 2020 election, a false narrative that Trump has promoted for nearly four years.
