by Donald Trump’s viral debate claim that Haitian immigrants were “eating dogs” of pet owners in an Ohio town kicked off an ugly week of racial intimidation Sunday as JD Vance, the former president’s top representative, confronted reporters . questions about spiral chaos.
Tuesday’s debate between Trump and opponent Kamala Harris in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania had some eye-opening moments, but none more so than when Trump echoed his latest online-born conspiracy against thousands of legal immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, for robbery and murder. , and eating pet dogs off the street.
The conspiracy was checked in real time by ABC’s David Muir, who noted that city officials had looked into the claim and found it unfounded. But the damage had already been done.
Nearly a week later, Vance found himself again responding to the actions of his running mate after days of horrific fallout in Springfield, where residents reported flights downed by the Ku Klux Klan as well as several bomb threats or mass shooting – the most recent of which, at Wittenberg University, happened Saturday night just hours before Vance went on the air.
On Sunday, journalists pressed Ohio’s junior senator on why the Trump campaign was circulating a claim that he could not provide any evidence beyond the anecdotal excuse Trump himself gave during the debate “I heard it on TV”.
On CNN, he appeared to admit that his claims were lies, and then went on to say that he would continue to spread such stories, even though he knew they were false, if the media talking about issues he claimed were still just as true despite the deception. .
“If I have to create stories so that the American media will pay attention to the suffering of the American people, that’s what I’m going to do,” the Senator said.
“Because you’re totally letting go of Kamala Harris’ coast.”
The apparent confession prompted host Dana Bash to point out: “You just said this is a story you made up.”
The exchange escalated when Vance fired off a question at Bash that he called “ironic” when she pointed out that there was “zero evidence” for his claims – and that the stories had inspired bomb threats in Springfield.
“Instead of saying things that are wrong and evacuating hospitals, schools, government buildings because of bomb threats, because of cats and dogs, why not be helpful in integrating them better into the community. ?” she asked.
Vance hit back at Bash saying her question was “more appropriate for a democratic poet than an American journalist” while slamming her for accusing her of “inciting violence against the community when only what has been done I only face the complaints of my family. constituents, people who are suffering because of Kamala Harris’ policies.”
As the sparring continued, he said: “Dana, do you want to ask me questions and let me answer them, or do you want to debate with me on these matters? I’m happy to be here to talk about policy, but if you’re going to interrupt me every time I open my mouth, why am I even doing this?”
Despite his apparent acknowledgment on CNN that such stories are made up, on NBC’s Meet the Press Vance still insisted they were genuine — even if all he could testify to was anecdotal claims from Ohioans who contacted his Senate office, and a video he shared on social media showing several people cooking chickens.
“Kristen, I hear you say they’re baseless, but I’m not repeating them because I made them up out of thin air. I am repeating them because my constituents are saying these things are happening,” he said.
It was no doubt an uncomfortable position for the senator, who is now accused of siding with Trump and inciting today’s digital equivalent against the US government’s legal-status immigrant community — even as Trump says he will. order deportations at home if elected.
The chief of police in Dayton, Ohio, the sixth largest city in the state, has now denied his words and actions, and it will surely be a campaign issue if the senator fails to win the vice presidency in November and in his seek re-election instead. to his Senate seat in 2028.
“We stand by our immigrant community and there is no evidence to remotely suggest that any group, including our immigrant community, is engaged in eating pets,” chief executive Kambran Afzal said in a statement. “It’s encouraging to see politicians or other individuals using overwhelming information to appeal to their constituents.”
On Sunday, Josh Shapiro, the Democratic governor of Pennsylvania and a Harris campaign representative, was also quick to denounce Vance.
“That was bonkers … the US senator from Ohio just came on your show and blamed his own constituents for his own lies. This guy is so bad,” Shapiro said. “JD Vance should be ashamed of himself.”
