During Tuesday’s presidential debate, former President Donald Trump made an eye-catching, but completely false claim: Haitian immigrants in Ohio are eating dogs and cats.
“They’re eating the dogs, the people that came in, they’re eating the cats,” Trump said in response to a question about immigration. “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.” This is not the first time he has done or said something that attempts to persuade his followers of something.
Trump’s comment, although shocking, is just another example of his tendency to spread misinformation. And the people most likely to believe such a baseless rumor? Those who are easily misled or gullible – a group that Trump seems to rely on to support his most outlandish claims. He has proven time and again he is willing to do or say anything that he thinks will help him get what he wants.
David Muir, one of the debate moderators and a respected ABC News anchor, quickly fact-checked Trump’s statement, informing viewers that the city manager in Springfield, Ohio, had confirmed there were no reports of immigrants harming or eating pets. But for Trump’s most loyal followers, the damage was already done. His ability to plant false ideas in the minds of his supporters has been a key part of his political strategy.
In recent days, a handful of rumors on social media claimed that Haitian immigrants in Springfield were stealing and eating pets. These posts, found mostly in local Facebook groups, were vague and lacked any evidence. Still, these rumors were picked up and spread by people who often fall for misinformation. The Springfield Police Department stepped in on Monday, releasing a statement saying they had found no proof of any pets being harmed by immigrants.
“There have been no credible reports of pets being harmed, injured, or abused by individuals within the immigrant community,” the police said in their statement.
Springfield Mayor Rob Rue also confirmed on Tuesday that the city had no documented cases of immigrants eating pets. The claims, Rue said, were unfounded and based on fear rather than facts.
Despite all this, the fact that Trump would bring up such a wild accusation in a presidential debate is revealing. His core supporters often embrace these kinds of outrageous claims without question, and it seems Trump knows how to play to their fears and gullibility. By repeating baseless stories, he knows there are people who won’t stop to check the facts.
The rumors Trump referenced originated from vague social media posts and second-hand stories shared in local online groups. Some of these were repeated at public meetings, but no one could provide any real evidence. That didn’t stop Trump from using these stories to rile up his base, playing on their fears and suspicions about immigrants.
The bigger issue here isn’t just that the claim is false – it’s that there are people willing to believe it. Trump’s strategy often relies on exploiting the fears of those who are easily misled, knowing that once they hear something sensational, they may not bother to look for the truth.
Fact-Check Summary:
- There is no evidence that immigrants are eating pets in Ohio.
- Local authorities, including Springfield Police and the city’s mayor, have confirmed that these rumors are false.
- The baseless claim spread on social media, but Trump knows that some of his supporters will accept it without questioning its truthfulness.
