Just days after pushing baseless claims about Haitian migrants stealing and eating pets in Springfield, former President Donald Trump announced plans to visit the city within the next two weeks.
At a rally in Uniondale, New York, Trump said, “I’m going to Springfield, and I’m going to Aurora,” referencing both the Ohio city and Aurora, Colorado, another town targeted by his conspiracy theories.
Trump’s running mate, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, has joined in spreading the false rumors, despite repeated debunking from Springfield officials. Social media has been ablaze with these lies, causing real-world harm.
Bomb threats have surged in Springfield—33 so far, forcing building and school closures and canceling community events. According to Governor Mike DeWine, this stretches the city’s resources thin. DeWine also noted that some of these threats were traced back to “one particular country,” though he declined to name it.
Mayor Rob Rue, a Republican, is pleading with Trump to rethink his visit, which could place even more strain on local law enforcement already working overtime to address the wave of hoax threats. “A visit from the former president would be an extreme strain on our resources,” Rue said. “So it’d be fine with me if they decided not to make that visit.”
At a recent debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump took his falsehoods to a new level, claiming, “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs… the pets of the people that live there.”
These outrageous statements, repeated at rallies, have left Springfield’s Haitian community in fear for their lives. The president of the Haitian Community Support Center told NBC News that the conspiracy theories have made many in the community feel unsafe.
While Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric grabs headlines, the facts tell a different story.
Springfield’s Haitian population, mostly legal migrants, has been welcomed by the city to fill a vital labor shortage. Officials have repeatedly stated there are “no credible reports” to support any claims of migrants eating pets. Yet, the falsehoods persist, and the harm they cause is all too real.
As Trump’s visit looms, Springfield officials and residents are left bracing for what could come next. Will the chaos continue, or will the calls for peace finally be heard? Only time will tell.