Donald Trump’s false claim that immigrants in Ohio are abducting pets and eating them during Tuesday’s presidential debate was quickly slapped down by ABC News moderator David Muir.
While on the debate stage in Philadelphia, the former president asserted that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio were “eating dogs” and “eating the cats” while pushing his anti-immigration policies.
“What they have done to our country by allowing these millions and millions of people to come into our country and look at what’s happening to the towns all over the United States,” the former president said.
“In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs, the people that came in. They’re eating the cats. They’re eating. 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,” the former president claimed.
As he spoke, Harris gave a look of disbelief before laughing.
There is no evidence that Haitian immigrants in Ohio are abducting and eating pets.
Muir corrected the former president, adding: “ABC News did reach out to the city manager there. He told us there had been no credible reports of specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individuals within the immigrant community.”
Trump interrupted Muir and disputed him, claiming he saw it “on television.”
He said: “Well I’ve seen people on television. People on television say, ‘my dog was taken and used for food,’ so maybe he said that and maybe that’s a good thing to say for a city manager.”
That claim started from a post on social media, that appeared to originate from Springfield, where a resident said that the Haitian community “carved up” animals, including cats and dogs, for consumption.
Trump’s running mate JD Vance reposted the claim. Other allies like Elon Musk and the GOP Judiciary made posts referencing the false claim.
Springfield Police Division said there was no evidence to support the claim and Muir confirmed that the Springfield City Manager had “no credible” reports of it.