Vance falsely claimed in a series of viral social media posts last month Haitian migrants were abducting and eating pets in Springfield, Ohio.
Topline
Republican vice presidential nominee Ohio Sen. JD Vance has distanced himself in recent weeks from the debunked viral conspiracy he helped spread that Haitian migrants are eating pets in Springfield, Ohio, pivoting at Tuesday’s vice presidential debate to focus on blaming the migrant influx for increasing housing costs and straining local services.Key Facts
Vance’s opponent, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, was the first to bring up Springfield at Tuesday’s debate, during a discussion on immigration, slamming Vance for “vilifying” a community of legal migrants, referring to debunked claims Vance made last month that “people have had their pets abducted and eaten.”
In his response, Vance said schools and hospitals are “overwhelmed” and housing is unaffordable and scarce because of the influx of migrants to Springfield, faulting Vice President Kamala Harris’ border policies.
Vance did not mention the claims both he and former President Donald Trump have previously made that Haitian migrants in Springfield are eating the pets of the city’s residents, which the city’s police department said is not true.
The debate moderators pointed out Springfield does have a large number of Haitian migrants, though they are in the country legally because the Biden administration granted them temporary protected status to escape gang violence in Haiti.
Vance protested the moderators’ interjection, claiming the rules stated they would not fact-check the candidates in a moment the Harris campaign quickly mocked.
