Vance Defends False Claims About Immigrants, Faces Backlash

Ohio Senator and vice presidential nominee JD Vance has come under intense scrutiny following his defense of false claims that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating local pets. During an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash on Sunday, Vance stood by the assertion, saying he made the claims to draw attention to the challenges facing the community, even as local officials and fact-checkers continue to debunk the statements. The situation has sparked a heated debate, with some viewing it as a dangerous attempt to stir fear and division.

Vance’s remarks last week about “reports” of immigrants eating people’s pets quickly made headlines, with the senator claiming he had “firsthand accounts” from constituents in Springfield. The area has recently seen an influx of Haitian immigrants, but Vance did not present any concrete evidence to support his claims. Despite this, he defended his comments, framing them as part of an effort to shed light on what he described as the community’s suffering, which he claimed was being ignored by the media.

The controversy began when Vance and former President Donald Trump repeated the accusation that Haitian migrants in Springfield were eating dogs and cats. The claim gained traction on social media but was swiftly debunked by local officials. According to Springfield police, there have been “no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured, or abused by individuals within the immigrant community.” In fact, some viral social media posts about a supposed incident involving pet consumption were traced to another part of Ohio and did not involve immigrants.

When pressed for proof of his claims, Vance doubled down, saying his goal was to highlight issues in Springfield that he believed were being ignored by the press. He acknowledged that the reports of pets being eaten might not be entirely accurate but defended his approach, saying he was using the allegations to “create stories” that would draw media attention. “I wanted to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people,” Vance said, though he later clarified that he was trying to get the media to focus on broader issues.

Vance also defended accusations that Haitian immigrants were hunting geese from a local pond for food. According to him, there were 911 calls from residents complaining about the issue. However, Bash pointed out that there had only been two such calls in 11 months, and neither led to evidence supporting the claims. Despite this, Vance continued to assert that the complaints were real and part of the larger problems facing Springfield.

Springfield’s local officials have reacted strongly against Vance’s comments, with Mayor Rob Rue and others warning that the city is now facing increased tensions and even hate-fueled threats. Schools and public buildings were evacuated and temporarily closed after bomb threats were made, allegedly in response to the immigration debate. Rue criticized federal politicians, implying that the inflammatory rhetoric from figures like Vance and Trump was contributing to the situation, even if they did not directly cause the threats. Vance, however, denied any responsibility for the rise in threats, telling Bash that he did not believe his statements had anything to do with the growing hostility in Springfield.

The senator also faced questions about the involvement of the far-right Proud Boys, who marched through Springfield after his comments gained widespread attention. Vance distanced himself from the group, claiming that he does not share their views. However, he used the opportunity to pivot the conversation to a critique of Vice President Kamala Harris, blaming her immigration policies for the situation in Springfield. He argued that the media was using the Proud Boys’ march as a distraction from the real issues at hand, which he said include children not receiving a proper education due to the influx of immigrants.

Vance’s claims have drawn backlash from various corners, including fellow Republicans. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, defended the Haitian community in Springfield and refuted Vance’s accusations. Speaking on ABC News on Sunday, DeWine described the Haitian migrants as “very good workers” who are contributing positively to Springfield’s economy. He called the allegations that immigrants were eating pets “a piece of garbage that was simply not true.” DeWine’s defense comes at a time when Springfield is seeing rapid growth, partly due to the arrival of Haitian migrants who have been able to find employment in the city’s manufacturing sector.

Mayor Rue, too, expressed frustration with the rhetoric, telling Politico that Springfield was being “smeared” by baseless accusations. He lamented that the city had been “caught in a political vortex,” with the false claims about pets feeding into a broader narrative of fear and division.

Critics have also seized upon Vance’s statement that he and Trump were “creating” stories to draw media attention. Some argue that this amounts to an admission that the claims were fabricated for political gain. Vance, however, pushed back against that interpretation, calling it “a dishonest smear.” In a tweet, he insisted he did not make up the story, writing, “I didn’t invent constituents complaining about this. We did help create the media focus on their complaints.”

The controversy began earlier in the week when Vance and Trump began amplifying rumors circulating among right-wing influencers that Haitian migrants in Springfield were abducting and eating pets. Vance acknowledged that the rumors could turn out to be false but said he believed it was important to continue highlighting concerns from his constituents. The city of Springfield has seen a surge of approximately 20,000 Haitian migrants in recent years, many of whom have secured legal status through a federal program. While the new residents have been welcomed by some local employers, who credit them with helping to fuel the city’s economic growth, others have voiced concerns about the strain on schools and healthcare facilities.

The fallout from the controversy has been significant, with multiple schools and public buildings in Springfield receiving threats. On Friday, two schools were evacuated, and another was closed after a threat was made to the school district. The threats, which expressed anger over immigration and frustration with the local government, have added to the fear and division that now grip the city. Mayor Rue has called for unity, urging politicians and the media to focus on solutions rather than stoking further hatred.

Despite the backlash, Vance appears to remain steadfast in his position, defending his rhetoric as necessary to bring attention to the challenges facing Springfield, even as the city continues to grapple with the consequences of the heightened tensions.