Trump spreads racist lie about Haitian immigrants eating pets during presidential debate
During the ABC presidential debate against Vice President Kamala Harris, Donald Trump amplified a baseless conspiracy theory about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio. Trump stated: "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." ABC moderator David Muir immediately fact-checked Trump, noting that Springfield's city manager said there had been "no credible reports" of pets being harmed. The claim originated from unverified social media posts and was amplified by JD Vance days before the debate. Springfield police confirmed they had received no such reports.
“In Springfield, they're eating the dogs, the people that came in, they're eating the cats.” — ABC Presidential Debate, September 10, 2024 Quote verified against source
Analysis Feed
AI commentaryThis event documents Trump's most viral moment of disinformation from the 2024 campaign. The 'eating cats and dogs' claim became a cultural phenomenon, spawning memes and widespread mockery, but had devastating real-world consequences for Springfield's Haitian community. The claim was immediately debunked by ABC's moderator during the debate and by Springfield officials, but continued to be amplified by Trump and Vance in subsequent days.