J.D. Vance Promoted Rumors of Pet-Eating Immigrants Even After Learning They Were ‘Baseless’
“Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn’t be in this country,” Sen. J.D. Vance (R–Ohio), Donald Trump’s running mate, averred on X the morning of September 9, referring to rumors that Haitian immigrants were eating stolen cats and dogs in Springfield, Ohio. That same morning, Springfield City Manager Bryan Heck told The Wall Street Journal, a Vance staffer called to ask him, “Are the rumors true of pets being taken and eaten?”
Heck’s response was unequivocal: “I told him no. There was no verifiable evidence or reports to show this was true. I told them these claims were baseless.”
Heck’s rebuttal did not stop Vance from re-upping those claims the very next day. “My office has received many inquiries from actual residents of Springfield who’ve said their neighbors’ pets or local wildlife were abducted by Haitian migrants,” he wrote on the morning of September 10. Perhaps based on his staffer’s belated attempt at fact checking, Vance acknowledged that “it’s possible, of course, that all of these rumors will turn out to be false.” Still, he said, that possibility should not dissuade his “fellow patriots” from spreading those rumors: “Keep the cat memes flowing.”
Trump did that in a big way during his ABC debate with Vice President Kamala Harris that night. “In Springfield,” he complained, “they’re eating the dogs, the people that came in; they’re eating the cats. 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.”
Moderator David Muir jumped in to note that ABC News, like Vance’s staffer, had consulted with Heck, who “told us there had been no credible reports of specific claims of pets being harmed, injured, or abused by individuals within the immigrant community.” Like Vance, Trump was unfazed. “Maybe that’s a good thing to say for a city manager,” he r
Article from Latest
The Reason Magazine website is a go-to destination for libertarians seeking cogent analysis, investigative reporting, and thought-provoking commentary. Championing the principles of individual freedom, limited government, and free markets, the site offers a diverse range of articles, videos, and podcasts that challenge conventional wisdom and advocate for libertarian solutions. Whether you’re interested in politics, culture, or technology, Reason provides a unique lens that prioritizes liberty and rational discourse. It’s an essential resource for those who value critical thinking and nuanced debate in the pursuit of a freer society.